For some, it’s the allure of an appealing beat and song. For others, it’s an opportunity to pay homage to their hometown or family members. Regardless, players like to have fun with their song selection.
Will Middlebrooks is no different. When the Red Sox third baseman was promoted to the Red Sox earlier this month, he handpicked three songs for his at-bat music, starting with Rick Ross’ “Holy Ghost.”
During the team’s last home stand, however, Middlebrooks trimmed his soundtrack to two songs –– Stevie Ray Vaughan‘s “Texas Flood” and Skrillex’ remix to “Levels” –– for different reasons.
“[Texas Flood] is one of my dad’s favorite songs, so I picked that mainly because of him, because I know he likes that a lot,” Middlebrooks said. “I grew up listening to that kind of music with him and I have the Skrillex one –– kind of techno song –– I just think it’s fun. I like it, it’s upbeat and it gets me going.”
“It’s more of a comfort thing, you get one of those songs that you hear it and you’re just like ‘Alright’. It’s not really like up or down, it’s just a song I like.”
Meanwhile, a song’s beat takes precedence for Ryan Sweeney. The outfielder, who is in his first year in Boston, started the season off with Drake‘s “The Motto”, but recently ditched it for Roscoe Dash‘s “Good, Good Night” in the last home stand.
The reason for the change? Sweeney simply wanted to change the pace of his at-bat music and energize the crowd at Fenway in the process.
“We were listening to [Roscoe Dash] in the clubhouse and I was like ‘I’m going to walk out to this today’ and I just called them up and had them change my song,” Sweeney said. “I usually just keep the same thing the whole year, but I guess if that one’s not working then change it to a different one.”
“I just kind of like [a song] that has a good beat and good rhythm for me to walk out to. That’s all I really worry about. I don’t really look and see who sings or whatever –– it’s usually one of the newer songs that’s out –– but that’s about it.”
At-bat music usually gets lost in the shuffle of the day-to-day baseball routines, but it gives Middlebrooks and Sweeney a jolt on occasion.
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