Your 2018 Rays walk-up music bracket, Introduction

After a tough weekend road series in Seattle and on one of the rare off days in recent memory, the time is ripe...

It’s back!

After a rousing success last year (in this author’s mind, at least), the 2018 version of the Tampa Bay Rays walk-up music bracket is back and better than ever.

Now, it may seem superfluous to do this exercise in back-to-back years, but given the amount of roster turnover the Rays have seen in the past 12 months, it should be different enough to demand a running back of this deep-seated annual tradition…

Plus, with Evan Longoria ploying his trade in the Bay Area now, last year’s winning song is out of town, and the crown is there for the taking.

The process behind this year’s bracket will be much the same as last year, so here’s a copy and paste from last year’s introduction, with a few minor edits:

The Rays have 29 players (it’s 33 this season!) with official songs listed for them on the team’s website. The songs range from Marilyn Manson (The Bone Collector) to Jeremy Camp (Don Omar) and everywhere in between. Over the course of the next five off-days (whenever I feel like writing these), the winner of the Rays’ best walk-up/walk-in song will be determined.

A few rules:

The songs listed on the Rays’ website are the ones being used. Sure, the song may have changed since this list was made, but this is the best source for the whole roster in one spot and trying to chase down song changes midseason can be a harrowing adventure.

You don’t necessarily have to be on the active roster to participate. You’re welcome, Blake Snell (Willy Adames).

No touching of the hair or face.

We will have one slight change to the format.

People were quite upset that Kevin Kiermaier’s walk-up song (Rick Ross’ Hustlin’) was eliminated before it was able to make a run. Fair. I love democracy, so not only am I going to allow y’all to vote on each and every one of these matchups, I’m going to allow you to vote on which songs to eliminate each step along the way. It’s going to be literally entirely reader decided this year. There are six players with multiple songs listed on the Rays website. Here are each of the options, take a vote for which song you’d prefer to represent said player.

(Note: If you are reading this on mobile or on Apple News, the polls will be stripped out, so go a different route if you want your voice heard.)

Adeiny Hechavarria

“Ninguno Se Monta” Darell

“Walk it Talk It” Migos, Drake

It’s a perfect sign of how washed I am that I had to listen to both of these songs for the first time when decide where to send my vote, and it likely means I am unqualified to even have an opinion, BUT [extremely white male voice]: I guess I’ll weigh in anyways. I’m going with Migos because after their Atlanta appearance, I’m in the bag for them.

Micah Johnson

“Not Today Satan” KB

“Alive” Lil Jon, Offset, 2 Chains

Don’t we all miss Micah? Anyway, I won’t miss the day when Lil Jon is no longer a thing. KB for the win, please.

Wilson Ramos

“Wilson” Phish

“Dura” Daddy Yankee

As a white dude from Vermont, I am actually legally obligated to vote for “Wilson” here. Plus, IT’S HIS NAME! Hilarious

Daniel Robertson

“Thugz Mansion” 2Pac

“American Dream” Jeezy

This one is pretty easily solved with a simple math equation:

2Pac + Nas + J. Phoenix > Jeezy + J Cole + Kendrick Lamar

I must honor my Shea Serrano rap roots and trash any and everything J Cole has ever done. Plus, even if Kendrick is great, he’s going up against a pair of legends (and whoever J. Phoenix is).

Mallex Smith

“Swing My Way” K.P. & Envyi

“We Are Young” Kyle Edwards

A cover of a “fun.” song? Hard pass.

Jesus Sucre

“Me Acostumbre” Bad Bunny

“Los Bandoleros” Don Omar

Even though I will forever be in love with Don Omar for providing us with “Danza Kaduro,” there is something hypnotically soothing about “Me Acostumbre,” and the video is just as entrancing. Sleeper potential here.

When those polls close, we’ll be back with a final 33, with voting to proceed from there.