One of the best things about going to Wrigley Field this year, besides the winning and the great baseball, has been the Chicago Cubs walk-up music. It’s been especially good because players have been picking Fetty Wap, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Omega (an irresitible track) and a lot of other good artists to pump up basically everyone, even opposing teams, for the next pitch. However, with 25 players on the playoff roster (and one of two other guys potentially swapped in for the injured Addison Russell in the upcoming NLCS series against the Mets), they all can’t possibly be winners.
With this list of each Cubs player’s walk-up songs, courtesy of the team’s communications manager Kevin Saghy, I’ll rank the entire roster according to each player’s musical choices. (FYI: Saghy confirmed that each player chooses his own tunes.)
I should also add that RedEye loves all these guys and is currently counting down the minutes until Saturday night. But for some of them, like Chris Denorfia, I’ve got some friendly advice. Maybe he should add a Thin Lizzy song instead of Nickelback to the rotation. Just a thought. Check out the full rankings below.
27. Pedro Strop (#46, relief pitcher)
This song has a fun groove but I hate, hate, hate the vocals with a fiery passion. I loathe admitting things like this because it’s my job to give music a chance but I coulnd’t even make it through this one all the way. Oof.
Secreto – “Amaneci Contento”
26. Jon Lester (#34, starting pitcher)
Wow, Jon Lester must really like Jason Aldean. While I give him points for picking relative deep cuts from the country star, I gotta say I’m more of an Eric Church or Sturgill Simpson guy when it comes to that kind of music. Also—Florida Georgia Line must be stopped.
Jason Aldean – “I Use What I Got” (Mound Song)
Jason Aldean – “Old Boots, New Dirt”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
25. Miguel Montero (#47, catcher)
“La Gozadera” is fun but I don’t really get the appeal of these two similarly-named and subpar Enrique Iglesias numbers. There’s the worldwide smash “Bailando” and the less-of-a-smash-hit “Bailamos,” which do absolutely nothing for me. Montero could have been our “Hero” with better picks.
Gente de Zona (ft. Marc Anthony) – “La Gozadera”
Enrique Iglesias – “Bailamos”
Enrique Iglesias – “Bailando”
24. Chris Coghlan (#8, outfielder)
Crowder’s song opens up with a bluesy burst of slide guitar energy but I’m not sure I can get behind this Linkin Park song. That said, I do think “Hybrid Theory” is underrated.
Crowder – “Lift Your Head Weary Sinner”
Linkin Park – “Burn It Down”
23. Hector Rondon (#56, relief pitcher)
The original is all right but what’s this techno remix? It’s a little much despite a pretty compelling drop.
Chino y Nacho – “Tu Me Quemas (Techno Remix)”
22. Trevor Cahill (#53, relief pitcher)
There are better Muse songs to choose. Cool riffs though. Let’s just say I like Cahill’s relief appearances way more than his song choice.
Muse – “Supremacy (Instrumental)”
21. Javier Baez (#9, infielder)
I can’t decide if I’m a \\_(¿)_/ , an \\( degrees _ degrees )/ or even an \\( degrees _o)/ about this one.
Pusho feat. Daddy Yankee – “Soy un Problema (Remix)”
20. Jason Motte (#30, relief pitcher)
I haven’t seen Motte pitch at Wrigley in a while (partially because he’s currently off of the playoff roster) so this is a tough one to grade. This is especially the case considering I’m not sure which Eric Church and Lil Wayne songs would be played. Though “Lose Yourself” is a worthy yet expected choice, I can’t effectively rank his tastes until I figure out the Weezy and Church songs. Sorry Jason, you’re stuck at 20.
Eminem – “Lose Yourself”
Lil Wayne – “???”
Eric Church – “???”
19. Jonathan Herrera (#19, infielder)
As soon as I heard this song, I couldn’t stop dancing. At press time, I still haven’t. Hopefully Herrera gets added to the 25-man squad as a replacement for Baez so the Friendly Confines can hear this in person again.
Victor Manuelle – “Que Suenen Los Tambores”
18. Kris Bryant (#17, infielder)
Hey, at least it’s not his “Frozen” Dubsmash.
Two Chainz, Wiz Khalifa – “We Own It”
17. Clayton Richard (#33, relief pitcher)
Shout out to Mr. Richard for being consistent by having two “B and” country duos. Both are solidified rootsy jams with memorable openings—perfect for any country boy going up to the plate.
Brooks and Dunn – “Hillbilly Deluxe” (mound song)
Big and Rich – “Rollin’ (The Ballad of Big and Rich)” (at-bat song)
16. Travis Wood (#37, relief pitcher)
This music is amazing because even if you’ve ever been to a game, you can just imagine Travis Wood getting absolutely hyped to these tracks. If these songs were a person—they’d be Travis Wood. Tritt’s “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” might be a little subdued but, whatever, it’s still fitting.
Brantley Gilbert – “Kick It in the Sticks”
Travis Tritt – “I’m Gonna Be Somebody”
Justin Moore – “How I Got To Be This Way”
15. Fernando Rodney (#57, relief pitcher)
Shout out to Rodney for respecting the classics but minus points for using just the instrumental (note: might not be his fault).
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg – “Dre Day (Instrumental)”
14. Addison Russell (#22, infielder)
“It Takes Two” is a killer and relatively surprising choice for Russell, considering the hip-house classic was out six years before the shortstop was even born. Solid crate-digging there, Addy.
Tribal Seeds – “Vampire”
Rob Base, DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two”
13. Chris Denorfia (#15, outfielder)
This is really, really tough. Dio rules and “Holy Diver” especially rules. Quiet Riot is also a good pick. But I can’t get behind “Burn It to the Ground.” I listened to it five times to try and get into Denorfia’s head and all I found was Chad Kroeger rooting for the Blue Jays (probably). My love for Dio outweighs my hatred for Canada’s worst export. I’m being nice here.
Dio – “Holy Diver”
Quiet Riot – “Metal Health”
Nickelback – “Burn It to the Ground”
12. Jason Hammel (#39, starting pitcher)
Hammel’s may not be the most original pick (*spoilers for 11*) but there’s no way I’m putting Cubs-uber fan Eddie Vedder any lower than this spot. You could say I’m ranking these players with an “Even Flow” of good vibes.
Pearl Jam – “Alive”
11. Kyle Hendricks (#28, starting pitcher)
While he shares a pick with fellow starting pitcher Jason Hammel, Hendricks edges him out ever so slightly because “Purple Haze” still more than holds up nearly 50 years after it was released. If I ever see Hendricks pitch at Wrigley before this run is over, I’m going to be so pumped when he comes up to the mound.
Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze”
Pearl Jam – “Alive”
10. Jorge Soler (#68, outfielder)
I’m always chair dancing in my section whenever Soler walks up to Quan.
Rich Homie Quan – “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)”
Osmani Garcia, Pitbull and Sensato – “El Taxi”
9. Justin Grimm (#52, relief pitcher)
These are all solid choices. AC/DC’s three-chord crunch is basically made for walking to the mound and “Turn Down For What” is only good at sporting events.
AC/DC – “You Shook Me All Night Long”
DJ Snake and Lil John – “Turn Down For What”
Skrillex (ft. Sirah) – “Bangarang”
8. Tommy La Stella (#11, infielder)
Drake’s Meek Mill diss and a Wiz Khalifa song from his 2010 mixtape “The Chronic”? La Stella is a man of surprises and clutch pinch hitting.
Drake – “Back To Back”
Wiz Khalifa – “Real Estate”
7. Anthony Rizzo (#44, infielder)
Look at me! I’m star player Anthony Rizzo and I have five walk-up songs—at least two more than everyone else!
It must be nice having such eclectic music taste and it works for Rizz. “Intoxicated” is almost as much of a blast as Castro’s amazing Omega musical choice and “Bad Blood” couldn’t be a better fit for the first baseman.
Martin Sloveig and GTA – “Intoxicated” (first at-bat song)
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – “Good Vibrations” (second at-bat song)
Taylor Swift – “Bad Blood” (third at-bat song)
Swedish House Mafia – “Greyhound”
Tiesto – “Lethal Industry”
6. David Ross (#3, catcher)
Being the oldest Cub on the roster, Ross handles his over-the-mound status with poise and a lot of humor. These are inspired choices.
Alphaville – “Forever Young”
Jay Z – “Young Forever”
5. Jake Arrieta (#49, starting pitcher)
Though not as outstanding as his second half of the season pitching dominance, MO and Major Lazer are always smart pop picks and that Gorillaz remix is as surprisingly good as the original.
Major Lazer, DJ Snake (ft. MO) – “Lean On” (at-bat song)
Pretty Little Lights – “One Day They’ll Know” (mound song)
Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc. (Jomerix Trap Remix)” (second mound song)
4. Kyle Schwarber (#12, outfielder)
Local sportcaster Adam Amin put it better than I ever could: “Kyle Schwarber’s walk-up songs are “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” and “No Diggity.” Of course he hits home runs.”
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – “Thuggish Ruggish Bone”
Blackstreet – “No Diggity”
3. Austin Jackson (#27, outfielder)
Jackson picked one of the best songs off the best record of the year. No way he’d miss the Top 5.
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
2. Dexter Fowler (#24, outfielder)
Earlier in the year, Fowler had Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen” as his walk-up music way before it ever took off. I’d want nothing more than to have a peek at his iPod. Every single pick of his so far has been 1000% fire emoji.
Drake and Future – “Big Rings”
Young Dro – “We In Da City”
Fetty Wap (ft. Monty) – “My Way”
1. Starlin Castro (#13, Infielder)
This is for obvious reasons. #CastroClap #FlyTheW
Omega – “Ando En La Versace”
Shelow Shaq – “Calentate Girl”
El Alfa – “El Baile Del Dinero”
jterry@redeyechicago.com, @joshhterry
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