Life in the Minors- Chapter 8: Music
This week's episode of Life in the Minors, as heard on today's edition of One on One, can be heard below
Brooklyn Cyclones
Music is everywhere in our lives. People listen to music to put them in certain moods or just for entertainment. For the Brooklyn Cyclones, music is a tool that helps the players get into the zone for game time.
The Mini-Mets listen to music in all places, whether it’s during workouts, in the clubhouse, or when the players walk up to the plate. Most players get to exhibit their musical tastes in the clubhouse before a game. Cyclones infielder Matt Winaker describes how everyone likes different types of genres- Rap, Country, Latin, EDM, and more. He also welcomes the diversity of the clubhouse, so he doesn’t mind listening to the selections of his fellow teammates.
Individually, the players can show the fans their musical taste by choosing their own walk up songs. Southpaw Kurtis Horne chose the song “Came Up” by Post Malone. He decided on this song because he likes the beat, the flow, and he thinks it’s a fun song to listen to. As for teammate Matt Winaker, he chose a song that most people would not necessarily know. “Hammer Time” by Lecrae was his selection because of his love for the Christian rapper. Winaker even added that he thinks the song is “fire.”
Although the Cyclone players usually choose songs from their favorite genre, first baseman Jeremy Vasquez did the contrary. His walk-up song is “Los Bandoleros” by Don Omar, but his favorite type of music is country. For Vasquez, country music relaxes him and he feels it has a good beat.
Not everyone on the Cyclones has the same music taste or agrees on what music to play in the clubhouse. What the players can agree on is music plays a major factor in their preparation and in their everyday lives as a professional baseball player.
Hudson Valley Renegades
by Jon DeBaro
As the regular season begins to wind down for the Hudson Valley Renegades, the team looks poised to challenge for a spot in the New York Penn League Playoffs. The team looks to ride their current winning streak into the weekend series against Aberdeen.
Each player makes a unique contribution to team on the field. The same can be said of each player’s contribution to the team soundtrack. Whether warming up on the field or hanging out in the clubhouse, players are guaranteed to hear a wide selection of music on gameday.
While every player looks to come out onto the field with the same composed and focused attitude, each Renegade has their own selection of music to get their head in the game.
Renegades pitcher, Drew Strotman, chose a fast paced EDM song for his walkout song after witnessing firsthand how the same selection made by MLB superstar, Anthony Rizzo, brings the energy level up in Wrigley Field. On the field, Strotman keeps a song in his head to relax and stay in rhythm. Strotman’s fellow Renegades pitcher, Mikey York, opts for Leonard Skynyrd’s Simple Man, his choice song since High School, to get him ramped up to pitch.
It’s clear that each player puts a lot of personal though into their music selection. Music is key part of the mental preparation required to gain a competitive edge. In a long season with many ups and downs, music is an important way to refocus and enter the right frame of mind before stepping on the field.
