A new season means there are more MLB closer entrance songs to rank! This year’s field is the deepest we’ve seen, featuring some new names and a wide variety of genres. Some teams have started including a light show when their closer enters the game. Remember that just because your favorite team’s closer isn’t ranked at the top doesn’t mean their song isn’t a good choice. The players on this list are based on their team’s closer depth chart on Fangraphs as of April 17, 2024. Without further ado, here are your 2024 MLB closer entrance song rankings.
MLB Closer Entrance Songs – Honorable Mentions
There are a few players who, as of this writing, are on the injured list, but their choices are too good to be left out. All three of them would likely rank in the top half of the list.
MIN: Jhoan Duran – Mash-Up of El Incompredido by Farruko and Hot by Daddy Yankee and Pitbull
Duran is expected to be Minnesota’s closer this year, but an oblique injury during spring training sidelined him. The song choices for this mash-up on their own are fantastic, but the ringing of the gong and the fans lighting up their phones as Duran trots in makes for an electric entrance. The return of this entrance will be a bonus to having Duran’s blazing fastball and splinker closing games this summer.
BAL: Felix Bautista – Omar’s Whistle from The Wire
In the 2023 MLB closer entrance song rankings, Bautista‘s choice ranked eighth. Unfortunately, the towering righty had to undergo Tommy John surgery late in the season and isn’t expected to pitch in 2024. As demonstrated by the light show that accompanies Bautista’s entrance, this is an excellent choice, and it’s from the soundtrack of a show based in Baltimore. There isn’t much to dislike here.
ARI: Paul Sewald – Jump Around by House of Pain
Just like Duran, Sewald is beginning the year on the IL due to an oblique injury. “Jump Around” is best known for being played before games at the University of Wisconsin, and it gets everyone excited. This is a near-perfect selection by Sewald.
30. TB: Pete Fairbanks – Secret Crowds by Angels & Airwaves
Occupying the doormat of the list, we have Pete Fairbanks of the Rays. This isn’t necessarily a bad song, but it’s just very bland. There isn’t much energy and it’s not remotely intimidating.
29. Emmanuel Clase – Di Di Di by Bartolo Fogon
Clase enters 2024 with the same song he used last season. It’s a step up from Fairbanks’ choice, but there isn’t much energy for the crowd to feed off of. It doesn’t sound super intimidating either.
28. MIL: Abner Uribe – Cowboy by Kid Rock
There are a few Kid Rock songs that could make for a good entrance, but Uribe picked one of the weaker options. The energy off the bat is decent, but it never really picks up, especially from the instrumental. However, it is more intimidating than Fairbanks’ and Clase’s choices.
27. BOS: Kenley Jansen – Correct by Connor Price
It hurts to see Jansen ranked so low, but his choice this year just doesn’t stack up to other MLB closer entrance songs with what he’s used in years past. The bagpipes in the intro are great, but there’s not much else to this song. Unfortunately, 27th is the highest Jansen can go.
T-25. Robert Suarez, SD and Camilo Doval, SFG – Bandoleros by Don Omar, Tego Calderón
This is where the ranking decisions started getting tough. Suarez and Doval‘s choice is a solid one, as the vocals are strong. The instrumental holds it back, as it never quite picks up past the intro.
24. CHC: Adbert Alzolay – Belly Dancer by Imanbek, BYOR
There’s certainly energy to this song, and there’s a bit of a comedy factor to the lyrics. It isn’t super intimidating in terms of MLB closer entrance songs, but this isn’t a bad choice by Alzolay.
23. PHI: Jose Alvarado – Me Olvide de Vivir by Toño Rosario
The version of this song that Alvarado chose has more energy than the original by Julio Iglesias. It might not be the most intimidating, but it can get the crowd jazzed up.
22. LAA: Carlos Estévez – Despues De La Playa by Bad Bunny
If you cut to the 1:08 mark in the song, the way Estévez does when he jogs in, then there’s immediate energy in the ballpark. The instrumental is fast-paced, but the intensity of the vocals doesn’t match that electricity. Still, this is a solid choice among the MLB closer entrance songs.
21. TEX: Kirby Yates – Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley & The Wailers
The Rangers have sort of had a revolving door at the closer’s role, but it appears Yates will get most of the save opportunities going forward. This song among the MLB closer entrance songs has a bit of a comedic effect too, and Yates used it a little bit in the minor leagues and when he was with the Padres. It’s not the most intimidating song ever, but it’s catchy and could maybe get in the heads of opponents.
20. HOU: Josh Hader – Fireman by Lil Wayne
Josh Hader has a different song for the third straight year, and this one is a step up from what he had in 2023. The siren at the beginning is awesome, but it feels like the energy doesn’t pick up after the intro. This gets some creative points though, as relievers are sometimes referred to as “firemen”.
19. WAS: Kyle Finnegan – Edge of Darkness by Greta Van Fleet
Finnegan is using the same song as he did a year ago, and it checks in one spot higher than 2023. It’s one of many Greta Van Fleet songs that could make for a good entrance, but it could be improved upon if the instrumental matched the energy of the vocals.
18. CWS: Michael Kopech – Simple Man by Shinedown
If Kopech had used the Lynyrd Skynyrd version of Simple Man like Jacob deGrom does, then he might rank a little higher. While the vocals are more intimidating than the Skynyrd version, the guitar takes a little too long to get going. Still, this is a good selection from Kopech.
17. LAD: Evan Phillips – Show Me How to Live by Audioslave
Phillips has changed his entrance song in his second year as the Dodgers’ closer. This isn’t the best Audioslave option, but it’s still a good one. There isn’t much of an intimidation factor, but the energy is enough to make up for it.
16. COL: Justin Lawrence – Café Con Leche by Pitbull
Lawrence‘s choice has some instant energy that can get a crowd grooving. The repetitive nature of the song knocks it down a peg, but there isn’t much not to like here.
T-14. Clay Holmes, NYY, and James McArthur, KC – White Horse by Chris Stapleton
Holmes and McArthur are not the only players that use White Horse as their warm-up/walk-up song. Normally, country songs don’t rank super highly, but there’s sort of a heroic feel to it, which takes it up a notch.
13. DET: Jason Foley – What Is Love by Haddaway
Foley went with a bit of a comedic choice, which might catch opponents off guard. While the lyrics are pretty repetitive, it has plenty of energy that can fire up a crowd.
12. ATL: Raisel Iglesias – I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
Iglesias‘ choice is a little similar to Foley’s, but the energy is a bit higher, bringing more of a party vibe to the ballpark. It also isn’t as repetitive, and it’s easily the best Black Eyed Peas song to choose for any of the MLB closer entrance songs.
11. SEA: Andres Muñoz – Peppas – David Guetta Remix by Farruko
The Mariners’ relievers have some of the best entrances in baseball, and Muñoz is no exception. While the bass drop at 1:09 doesn’t do as much as you’d hope, there’s so much energy before it that it doesn’t matter that much. In a stacked field though, this lands at 11.
10. OAK: Mason Miller – Burn It to the Ground by Nickleback
Mason Miller kicks off our top 10 with one of the most divisive artists in the world – Nickleback. No matter what side of the Nickleback debate you’re on, it’s not hard to admit that this is a great choice for any of the MLB closer entrance songs by Miller. The energy starts high and stays there, while the vocals are fast and intimidating. It’s an angry-sounding song, which is perfect for the hardest thrower in the majors.
9. ARI: Kevin Ginkel – Wake Up by Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine has a bunch of good options, but Ginkel picked the best one. This is actually one of two songs on this list that I have used as my alarm. It’s fast and intimidating, and it definitely can get your blood pumping.
8. MIA: Tanner Scott – Mother by Danzig
This song has been my alarm since my freshman year of college. Previously, Keith Foulke entered games to this song during his career. The opening guitar riff sets the tone, and then Glenn Danzig comes in with his grim-sounding voice. Overall, this is a great choice by Scott.
7. BAL: Craig Kimbrel – Wherever I May Roam by Metallica
Is this the best Metallica song to use? No. Is this still an awesome selection? Absolutely. The line “Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond, call me what you will,” perfectly encapsulates the latter half of Kimbrel‘s career, as he’s on his fifth team in four years. Kimbrel is off to a strong start this year, and hopefully, he can keep building on his Hall-of-Fame-caliber career.
6. MIN: Griffin Jax – X Gon’ Give It to Ya by DMX
This selection probably would’ve ranked in the top 10 no matter who chose it, but the only player on here with an X in his name using this song? There’s nothing to dislike about this choice in closer entrance song from Jax.
5. TOR: Jordan Romano – Tsunami by DVBBS
Romano returned from the IL just in time for these rankings to drop. The song itself is a great choice, but it’s elevated by the light show that accompanies it. In 2023, TSN followed Romano to the mound as he entered a game to show fans at home how electric this entrance is.
4. CIN: Alexis Díaz – Matador by Marnik, Miami Blue feat. Marano
Inspired by his older brother, Edwin, Alexis Díaz chose a song featuring trumpets for his MLB closer entrance song, and it’s a good one. The song is entirely instrumental, but between the energy from the trumpets and the synths, it doesn’t need lyrics.
3. STL: Ryan Helsley – Hells Bells by AC/DC
Most famously used by Trevor Hoffman, Hells Bells can make a crowd go crazy just from the sound of the bells during the intro. In 2022, Busch Stadium started lighting the stadium red when Helsley jogged in, and it made the entrance even more electric. Last year, this was the top-ranked choice, but just because it dropped two spots doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve its love.
2. PIT: David Bednar – Renegade by Styx
It doesn’t get much better than this – Bednar – a Pittsburgh kid – closing out games for the Pirates, entering to the song that the city loves. The only thing that could make this entrance better is hearing “Renegade” blasting through the PNC Park PA system in the playoffs.
1. NYM: Edwin Díaz – Narco by Blasterjaxx feat. Timmy Trumpet
Mets fans waited an entire season for the return of the trumpets at Citi Field. Not only did Díaz bring “Narco” back, but the Mets also added a light show for his entrances at night games. If this closer entrance song doesn’t make you want to run through a wall, what will?
main image credit: Embed from Getty Images
Related
