Ranking the Yankee Walk-Up Songs

The walk-up song is one avenue where players can give us a peek into their interests and give fans more insight about their favorite players. The good ones stick with the player as they enter to take the mound or step into the batter’s box. Many players use their walk-up songs to send messages of confidence and coolness. Those are my favorite kind of walk-up songs, because music can really inject a level of bravado into the atmosphere. As  a professional athlete, you kind of earned that moment to have your own background music that speaks to how cool you are. 

The following rankings are based on current Yankee players and their walk-up songs according to MLB.com. It does not feature the full roster or even the complete starting lineup.

Carlos Rodón – Rooster (Alice In Chains) 

The slow beginning really builds up for a sick beat drop which descends into the chorus by amping up the bass. It has all the perfect elements of a baseball walk-up song. 

Nestor Cortés – Broke Boys (Drake, 21 Savage)

The rap beat and the song’s emphasis on success and not talking to “broke boys” sends a very literal message. The tough guy, arrogant approach is a common message in baseball walk-up songs, and I’m completely here for it. 

Clarke Schmidt – Rosa Parks (Outkast)

Outkast is a classic fan favorite. You can’t go wrong with having an Outkast walk-up song because the crowd is going to be into it no matter what. 

Juan Soto – Empire State Of Mind (JAY-Z), Yo Soy Dominicano (Leo RD, Dilon Baby), Esa Muchacha (Los Hermanos Rosario)

I don’t understand why Soto has three different songs and nobody else does, but good for him. Anyway, “Empire State of Mind” is classic for being a New York Yankee, and maybe even a little cheesy. The next two are fun, fast and upbeat. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what they’re saying, the music alone will have you moving. They’ll all be crowd favorites as walk-up songs

Jose Trevino – Hip Hop Hooray (Naughty By Nature) 

It has the right beat and vibe to it, but there’s something that holds it back for me. It almost needs to be stronger to be a walk-up song. It needs more rhetoric, which may be too much weight to be putting on a walk-up song, but here we are.

Clay Holmes – White Horse (Chris Stapleton) 

I’m a sucker for Chris Stapleton, and his new album features on my spotify home page constantly. This is to say I may be biased, but the beat drop at the chorus is perfect hype when walking up to bat. Also, the country choice tells us more about who Clay is as a person outside of baseball. I can absolutely see Clay Holmes chilling at home listening to Chris Stapleton.

Luis Gil – Made In Qatar (Ozuna)

This has a very fast pace and a beat that will have fans wanting to dance. Also, the song is specifically about being successful and balling out. It even uses baseball metaphors. So, it has the right energy and the right message for a walk-up song. 

Austin Wells – Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin)

The well-known rock classic has the right energy for a walk-up song, but it’s similar to Trevino’s “Hip Hip Hooray” in that it also doesn’t have enough rhetoric. I’m putting too much weight on the song again, but it had to be said. It’s a classic to bop along to, but not as a walk-up song. 

Gleyber Torres – El Hacha Macizon (Tambor Urbano)

Torres chose a classic dance song which gets the energy up. I have no idea what the translation is, but the music does its job for the walk up to bat.

Marcus Stroman – We Die Once (Mike.)

This song has a more laid back beat and vibe to it that I don’t really see as walk-up song material. It’s a generic chill rap song that gives you insight into the kind of music Stroman likes. 

Trent Grisham – No Longer Bound (I’m Free) (Maverick City Music, Forrest Frank)

This one is similar to Stroman’s “We Die Once.” I would describe it as chill pop rap. Its heavier on the pop and just feels like generic grocery store music to me, not walk-up song music. 

Aaron Judge – Swag Surfin’ F.L.Y. (Fast Life Yungstaz)

I’m sorry Judge, but “Swag Surfin’ as a walk-up song is predictable and cheesy. People will love it though.

Victor González – Mi Lindo Nayarit (Banda El Recodo)

This genre of music is different from what you would think a walk-up song would be. Wikipedia describes Banda El Recodo’s genre as Mexican Regional, and its a proper band with about 20 people playing instruments from the trombone to the cow bells. I definitely had a mixed reaction to it. You’re not expecting to hear it amongst the rock and rap songs, but the uniqueness has benefits. The beat is fun, and it has personality that people catch on to. 

Anthony Volpe-  Where You Are (John Summit, Hayla)

I can absolutely see Volpe liking pop-edm-dance music, and this song is the shining evidence of it. It’s a good song and it shows us more about what Volpe’s interests are, but I don’t think it works as a walk-up song at all. 

Alex Verdugo – Volver, Volver (Vicente Fernández)

It’s way too slow, and the song’s sad message about a lost love is not solid walk-up song material. It’s unique, but it has too much working against it.

This is quite an eclectic playlist, and I’m sure the full roster’s is even more impressive. More of them should have options like Soto and rotate the songs around. Some might even stick (like Bryson Stott’s “A-O-K”) or even become iconic because of who you are as a player (like Mariano Rivera and “Enter Sandman,” which was chosen for him). I mean “Enter Sandman” is sick as a walk-up song on its own, but pairing it with Mariano Rivera adds the weight I’m looking for in a walk-up song,