From Betts to BTS: K-pop walk-up songs for Dodgers, Padres MLB Seoul Series lineups

A five-tool group for a five-tool player. Neither Betts nor BTS requires much introduction, though if you need one, they are a former MVP, seven-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove winner, six-time Silver Slugger, and two-time world champion, and one of the most popular and best-selling groups in the world, respectively. Betts and BTS made their debuts within a year of each other and have spent the past decade displaying consistent mastery in their fields. It makes sense, then, that we should give the 31-year-old “Mic Drop,” the group’s first-ever Top 40 hit. It’s bouncy, confident (“Another trophy … / Too many that I can’t even count ‘em”) and a lot of fun,  all words that could also describe the Dodgers’ new shortstop.

The cue: Why even bother having a chorus about stacking up trophies at 2:03 if Mookie Betts can’t walk up to it?

Shohei Ohtani, DH
“Daechwita” by Agust D

We should preface this by saying that Ohtani — a very nice and lovely guy, by all accounts — would probably never pick this song for himself. Loud, brash and lyrically cutthroat, “Daechwita,” named for the traditional military music once played to announce royalty, is a diss track about being so good at something that your competition might as well not exist. It’s also about being very rich (“Who says time is money / My time is worth more than that”) and the perils of becoming so successful so quickly that it borders on scary (“What’s next? Here comes my reality check / There’s nowhere higher”). He would never admit to it, but that really is Ohtani’s whole deal. The king, the boss, etc. etc.

The cue: If it’s not the very first note, then it must be the now-legendary flow switch at 2:43. 

Freddie Freeman, 1B
“Antifragile” by Le Sserafim

Freeman recently disclosed that his son Charlie had already made his annual pick for his dad’s walk-up song (“Monaco” by Bad Bunny), so we’re happy to follow the younger Freeman’s lead here. “Antifragile” is a pop-reggaeton release in the Bad Bunny vein that details — what else — being antifragile against adversity. It’s a fitting pick for a player known for his upbeat personality and durability. Freeman was recently voted the friendliest first baseman in the game by his fellow players and has averaged 150 games across his 12 full major-league seasons.

The cue: We think Charlie would be partial to the ultra-singable chorus at 1:19.

Will Smith, C
“That That” by Psy feat. Suga

Will Smith is a man with a sense of humor. In 2020 and 2021, he walked up to the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song by another Will Smith, a man you might remember from all of the good ’90s movies and one unfortunate incident at a recent Oscars ceremony. That Will Smith was in a less-good ’90s movie called “Wild Wild West” and performed a song by the same name for the film’s soundtrack.

The music video for that song was likely a rough blueprint for “That That,” an equally comedic and camp western romp. Psy’s — yes, that guy — charming but effective rap skills and shockingly energetic choreography (he’s 46!) bring back a similar level of nostalgia and the chorus is maybe the most built-for-sports hook on this entire list. We think Smith will like that.

The cue: That aforementioned hook, beginning around 1:04.

Max Muncy, 3B
“Bouncy” by Ateez

Muncy has been described by those around him as disciplined and quiet, but he also has a reputation for being a little bit spicy, as evidenced by his recent ejections and the now-infamous time he told Madison Bumgarner to go retrieve his home run ball out of the ocean. There is an edge to him, which makes this pairing with Ateez — a group known for incorporating prog rock, metal and screamo elements into their music — make sense. Muncy’s fiery confidence is nicely distilled in “Bouncy,” a song that begins with a set of fighting words (“I got time, but it’s not for you, bro / Don’t you realize what I’m saying?”) and does not let up from there.

The cue: Ateez even does us the favor of counting us in at 2:27.

Jason Heyward, RF
“Rosario” by Epik High feat. CL and Zico

At 34, Heyward could be considered an elder statesman of these Dodgers, a cool-headed veteran whose influence is recognized around the club. It only makes sense to pair him with seasoned hip-hop trio Epik High, known for being a major influence on BTS and helping pave the way for Korean music to break internationally. “Rosario,” a response to anyone who argues against the group’s impact, is driven by a chill flamenco-style guitar riff and features an undeniable hook sung by K-pop legend CL. It feels like a natural fit for Heyward, and he’d probably agree — it’s not that far afield from his recent walk-up tracks.

The cue: CL’s part at 1:14.

Teoscar Hernández, LF
“Pop!” by Nayeon

The Dodgers signed free agent Hernández to a 1 year, $23.5 million deal this offseason for one specific reason: his bat. The two-time Silver Slugger has averaged 26 home runs over his last five full regular seasons. Put another way: his pop is the thing.

But “Pop!” is a walk-up match for more than just its title. In his short tenure with the team, Hernández has become one of the Dodgers’ most visible mood-makers and quickly established an endearing friendship with fellow new additions Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. His good vibes and positivity are perfectly in line with this sunny solo debut from Twice’s lead vocalist Nayeon. Now if only we could get Hernández to try the dance challenge.

The cue: It has to be the “pop” at 0:48.

James Outman, CF
“Hype Boy” by New Jeans

If you want to talk about breakout rookie campaigns, look no further than this player and group. Both made professional debuts in July of 2022 and hit the ground running. In 2023, Outman became the first Dodgers rookie to record 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases in the same season and finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. In that same time frame, critical darlings New Jeans debuted a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, played Lollapalooza and were tapped to perform the theme song for the League of Legends World Championship.

Upbeat and youthful, “Hype Boy” would have been a good pick for Outman regardless of these parallels (“Take it to the sky / You know I hype you, boy”), but they certainly do not hurt.

The cue: The chorus that launched a thousand TikToks at 0:52.

Gavin Lux, 2B
“Super” by Seventeen

OK, see if this one tracks for you.

“Super,” co-written by Seventeen’s S. Coups, Vernon and Woozi, is a love letter to their fellow members, a thank you for all of their hard work and accomplishments as a group (“I love my team / I love my crew / We already made it this high”).

Some might even call them … super.

Members of a super team.

It’s an easy bit, and it’s not the worst fit for Lux, a player who knows plenty about relying on his squad. The Dodgers second baseman struggled with throwing issues in spring training, resulting in a sudden position switch for Betts. Of the move, Betts told Lux: “Nothing’s changed, other than your view to home plate. We’re still up the middle together. We still are doing this thing together. So it doesn’t really matter.” Sounds like a lot of love.

The cue: “I love my team, I love my crew” at 1:10.

San Diego Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr., OF
“Rover” by Kai

It should be said that Fernando Tatis Jr. would probably make an incredible K-pop star.

He can dance. He has style. He speaks more than one language. And he can put on a show.

He is, as they say in the K-pop parlance, an ace — an all-rounder who attracts die-hards and casual fans alike.

A good comp for FTJ might be Kai, one of the industry’s most charismatic and popular idols. “Rover,” a playful, dancehall-inspired track, tells the tale of a free-spirited man subject to public scrutiny and fascination who wants nothing more than to move beyond the reputation that precedes him. It … sounds like a familiar tale, and feels like a fitting choice for the now-healthy 25-year-old outfielder, who will be eyeing a resurgence in 2024 after a few bumpy and disappointing years.

The cue: The chorus at 0:40 is the way to go. Good luck getting that hook out of your head, though.

Jake Cronenworth, 1B
“More” by j-hope

Cronenworth has had a difficult spell, undergoing what was a career-worst season in 2023 and being the subject of trade talks this past offseason. The 31-year-old infielder has been vocal about his trials while also detailing his hopes for a future turnaround.

“For the next seven years, I want to win. That’s all I want to do — put our team in a position to do that,” Cronenworth said last summer.

“More,” by BTS rapper j-hope, is a dark, introspective tune that details similar fears as he touches on his desires and insecurities in the wake of his group’s overwhelming success (“Keep my passion, I gotta go / I’m still not enough”). It’s a moody but hopeful song about trusting one’s instincts, perhaps one Cronenworth could take some inspiration from.

Another connection? “More” contains plenty of bending synths, spooky ad-libs and a mid-tempo beat, all elements of Cronenworth’s current walk-up staple, “Keep Their Heads Ringin’” by Dr. Dre.

The cue: The “Bring it all / I’m doing it all” at 2:16 before the final chorus hits.

Xander Bogarts, 2B
“Thunderous” by Stray Kids

There are few — if any — idol groups with a catalog more built for a sports arena than Stray Kids. One such song is “Thunderous,” a tale about the warning noise their enemies can hear before their arrival. (It’s kind of like the Omar Little whistle, in a way.) Bogaerts, a five-time Silver Slugger, also has a reputation for intimidating his opponents with the booming noise of his bat but will be facing some growing pains at a new position this season. Perhaps the Kids’ self-assured anthem could help him set the tone early.

The cue: It can really only be 0:54. How do you not hit a home run after that?

Manny Machado, DH
“Shut Down” by Blackpink

The career trajectories of professional athletes and K-pop idols are really not all that different. Idols-to-be train for years ahead of getting their call-up to the bigs. They, too, spend their first years as pros in their “rookie” season and dedicate countless hours to perfecting their craft and performing for large crowds.

Machado and Blackpink, arguably the most famous group in the world, have followed a similar path to stardom. Each had major buzz around them before they debuted and have found a way to remain dominant and ascendant throughout their career. “Shut Down,” a recent track from the quartet, is about remaining confident in your ability to turn the game on its head and keep people talking. That feels about right.

The cue: Machado’s energy is probably best suited for the back-to-back verses from rappers Jennie and Lisa (“Nah, you don’t want to be on my bad side / That’s right, I’m sliding through …”) starting around 1:21.

Ha-Seong Kim, SS
“New Thing” by Zico ft. Homies

This series will be the ultimate homecoming for Kim, who grew up just outside of Seoul and played seven seasons for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes, five of which were played inside this very Sky Dome.

We could cheat here since Kim already has a walk-up song, “Her” by Block B, that fulfills our brief. But in the spirit of this exercise, let’s give him something a little more in line with his baseball persona. “New Thing,” by Block B’s leader and main rapper Zico, still has some of the same hallmarks of Kim’s original pick but feels more swaggering — a suitable soundtrack for the San Diego fan favorite and reigning Gold Glove winner’s return to the place where it all began.

Yes you are, Kim. Yes you are. pic.twitter.com/gzoAODmGOO

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 18, 2024

The cue: 0:01 will work just fine and definitely get people on their feet, but it’s hard to argue against 0:44 — “The king is back / Bow!” could make quite a processional.

Luis Campusano, C
“I Can’t Stop Me” by Twice

Some of the songs on this list were chosen for their relevant lyrical content or their proximity to a player’s personality. Not this one, though: We’re selecting “I Can’t Stop Me,” a poppy synth-wave track from girl group megastars Twice, purely because it sounds like it belongs in the training montage of an ’80s action film.

According to a recent story by MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell, the 25-year-old Campusano has been working hard to build his confidence and stretch himself beyond his comfort zone ahead of the season — his first as the Padres’ primary backstop. His time is finally here, so why not give him the “Karate Kid” treatment?

The cue: Start the montage up right around 0:42.

Jurickson Profar, OF
“Crush Hour” by Crush feat. j-hope

Much like K-pop fans, sports fans love to use nicknames for their favorite pairings. There are the Bash Brothers, Splash Brothers, the Twin Towers and the M&M Boys, to name a handful. 

For Padres fans in certain internet spaces, there is “Crush Hour,” an adoring nickname for the duo of Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar. Inspired by the 1998 film “Rush Hour,” it’s a catchy tag and indicative of Profar’s joyful personality on and off the field, as well as his ability to get traffic moving on the bases. Besides the title, “Rush Hour” is a fun pick for another reason — it’s performed by K-R&B artist Crush and j-hope, who give off the same comedic energy as San Diego’s beloved buddies. 

Coming soon to a ballpark near you 🤫 pic.twitter.com/DFRqNLuiOS

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 18, 2024

The cue: The “This is crush hour, crush hour, crush hour” refrain at 2:34.

Graham Pauley, 3B
“Money” by Lisa

Sometimes the greatest walk-up song choices are really just in service of a good bit. As reported by our Dennis Lin, Pauley — No. 11 on Keith Law’s 2024 list of top Padres prospects  — was an economics major at Duke before his pro baseball career and intended to become an investment banker if baseball didn’t pan out. It seems like he made a solid bet. For that reason, we’ll give the 23-year-old — who began spring training as a non-roster invitee and is now the Padres’ projected third baseman in Seoul — “Money,” an ode to making bank and knowing your worth.

The cue: We’ll go with the dramatic “dun-dun-dun” outro around the 2:30 mark, which not only provides intimidating energy but is also a homophone for the Korean word “돈” which means — what else — “money.”

Jackson Merrill, OF
“Future Perfect (Pass the Mic)” by Enhypen

Merrill, Keith Law’s No. 2 Padres prospect and No. 23 overall, broke out in a big way in spring training and played his way into a starting spot on the major-league roster.

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According to Lin, Merrill had never left the United States before this trip and has never played an official game in center field, so this will be … quite an experience for the rookie. For the journey, we’ll offer up a rousing option from young upstarts Enhypen — at just 20, Merrill would slot right in the middle of this group, age-wise. “Future Perfect” is an aggressive hype song about seizing an opportunity and pushing beyond your doubt. Here’s hoping it can soundtrack a strong debut.

The cue: The shout-along begins around 1:03.

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(Top photos of BTS: Rich Fury / Getty Images for iHeartMedia; Mookie Betts: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)