D-backs players pick their walk-up songs for more than one reason

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.– Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta hasn’t decided yet on his walk-up song for this season. But one song has stuck out in his mind.

“I think I am going to with the one by Drake — Big Rings,” Peralta said. “I think that’s what we need. We need a big ring this year.”

As he takes his last practice swing before heading to the plate, Peralta said his song helps put him in his batting mindset.

“When you are on deck and you hear your song coming on, you feel like you are going to go up and do some damage.”

Catcher Chris Herrmann has also not decided on his walk-up song but when he does choose one, don’t expect it to last the whole year. When new songs come out, he said his favorite song tends to change.

Herrmann listens to a lot of different types of music from house artist Hardwell to rapper Kendrick Lamar, among others.

“I like house music a lot,” Herrmann said. “I think it gets the fans going and you might see one of those this year as well. I want the fans to have fun at the game as well.”

While Herrmann and Peralta pick songs to energize them, outfielder Peter O’Brien looks for a song to settle him down.

“I am kind of a guy that is always going to be on the pump up side of things so I want something that’s going to put me in the moment and help me focus.”

O’Brien has also not decided on a song but will most likely choose one from the hip hop or rap genre.

Two D-backs players have picked their songs but fans won’t know what it is until their first appearance of the season.

You can say it’s a secret.

“We are actually mixing a couple of songs right now just to have a little fun with it,” D-backs closer Brad Ziegler said. “We are not done with the mix yet so I can not confirm or deny anything.”

Ziegler did say he is leaning toward a country song for the first time in his career and part of the idea for his entrance song came from people inside the organization.

“People in a different realm in the front office than me wanted a certain beginning to the song for a closer and the song that I picked didn’t have the beginning they were looking for, so they wanted to mix a different beginning on the front of it just to kind of get the crowd’s attention a little bit.”

Third baseman Jake Lamb put in his song request Thursday but would not disclose it.

Lamb, who likes “80’s hair bands and rap music,” said the song he chooses helps get him in the zone. When people close to him didn’t like his song last year, he told them the hard truth.

“It’s more of just for me something to get me in the zone,” Lamb said. “The one I had last year, my parents and family were like that song was really annoying. It’s like, ‘Oh, that song isn’t for you. It’s for me.’ It’s to get me to locked in.”

Once the season gets going, Lamb said he doesn’t even really hear the song anymore.

“After about a week, I don’t even really hear it anymore just because you are thinking about the game and all of the other stuff. If you are thinking about the music that is playing, then you are not really focused on the job you got to do. ”