Until recently, Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Díaz hadn’t asked his brother about the song that the New York Mets blare on the speakers every time Edwin Díaz takes the mound in New York.
Over the last three weeks, Edwin Díaz’s walkout song has become the No. 5 song on Spotify. The video of his walkout to the song “Narcos” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet has over 10 million views. The song has a pulsing trumpet line and a bass soundtrack that gets the crowd at Citi Field out of their seats. Mets manager Buck Showalter has said that he makes a point to not miss the spectacle as Edwin Díaz walks onto the field.
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“When (Edwin) comes into the game in New York, the whole stadium feels like the game is over,” Reds reliever Jeff Hoffman said. “That’s kind of the point that you’re trying to get to. You hear that song, and you’re in the dugout, and it’s like, ‘You’re not winning this one, boys. Let’s pack up and go home.’”
Alexis and Edwin speak after every game about how they pitched. Their throwing motions look identical. They’ve been two of the best relievers in MLB this season as Edwin has a 1.30 ERA and Alexis has a 1.74 ERA.
Alexis Díaz has his own walkout song, but his teammates would love to see his entrance go to the next level and match his brother’s.
“That would be awesome, they would get to share that moment,” Reds reliever Art Warren said. “It’s good for the game because it brings energy to the fans. For us to be able to do that for our players would be huge.”
“It would be pretty, pretty cool to see Alexis have something similar,” Reds reliever Buck Farmer said. “But it’s tough finding something as good as (what Edwin has).”
Alexis Díaz said he’s happy with his current song, "Bendiciones" by Bad Bunny. It’s an upbeat Spanish rap song by one of his favorite rappers, and he immediately connected with the message.
The theme of the song is spreading “blessings” to the world. The Reds’ veteran relievers always tell the rookies to find a song that matches their personality. Just like his brother, Alexis Díaz believes he has found a song that fits him.
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“I’m a guy that doesn’t like to see anyone have a bad day or a bad outing,” he said via interpreter Jorge Merlos. “Blessings to everyone in the world. It suits me well. I really like my song right now. I’ve used it since last year. It’s worked out for me every time I’ve gone out there."
But Alexis Díaz’s current walkout lacks the pomp and circumstance that his brother’s has. There’s nothing to differentiate it from any other entrance for any other reliever.
Alexis Díaz agrees that his brother’s walkout song is a “game-changer” that “gets people fired up.” Even without changing the song, Díaz’s teammates had ideas to improve his introduction by working with the Reds' ballpark operations team.
What makes Edwin Díaz’s walkout the best in baseball is how the Mets start playing the song before he walks out onto the field and how the mascots pretend to provide the trumpet line.
There could be a few ways for the Reds to give Alexis Díaz’s introduction the same hype.
“I think that would go to the guys up in the (stadium operations) box reading the situation, knowing the most important parts of the game,” Hoffman said. “Coming in in the middle of the inning, people on base. If it’s a situation that can change everything, they can read that, play something on the video board, turn the lights down, whatever you got to do.”
“Any big situation calls for a spark in the crowd,” Warren said. “You use your stadium, you use your home field advantage by blaring the player’s song. For us, it pumps us up and gets us ready for that moment.”
The other big difference between Alexis Díaz and the other relievers with the best walkout songs is the way he’s used in the game. Edwin Díaz is a true closer who almost exclusively enters the game in the ninth inning, and that’s been true for most of the relievers with iconic walkout songs.
While Alexis Díaz is the Reds’ best reliever, manager David Bell uses him in the most high-leverage situations of the game. In Friday night’s loss, Díaz entered the game with a one-run lead and two runners on base in the seventh inning.
Alexis Díaz’s role on the Reds means there can’t be as much natural anticipation for his walkout as there is for Edwin Díaz’s. But Alexis Díaz’s teammates in the bullpen would be excited to see him get the closer treatment whenever he enters the game.
“It can be a huge home field advantage-type thing for the home team,” Hoffman said. “Alexis is getting to that point. Obviously, he’s on the right track.”
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