Baseball appeals to so many different kinds of people, so it makes sense that the choices for players’ walk-up songs come from many musical genres. While many players opt for rock, rap, or country songs, more and more are turning to uplifting songs from Christian music.
The genre has some terrific walk-up songs that can work for any batter as they step to the plate. Messages of hope and encouragement, after all, can only help. Here are the best Christian walk-up songs.
1. “Gimme Dat” by Ambassador
Song Year: 2005
The Ambassador brings some nice rhyming skills along with a fast-paced and energetic hip-hop sound that makes for a lively atmosphere for players and fans alike.
“Gimme Dat” has a background chorus of voices hyping through the whole thing, and that translates into excitement for the listener. You can almost hear a stadium of fans echoing the “Hey, hey” that runs through the song.
The Cincinnati Reds’ Chris Heisey, an outfielder for the club, has used “Gimme Dat” as a walk-up song in past seasons.
2. “Ignition” by TobyMac
Song Year: 2007
For years, TobyMac has been a fixture in Christian music, combining hip-hop with electronic elements and an uplifting message.
“Ignition’s” high-energy chorus makes it an excellent choice for a walk-up song, as it can create a pumped-up and motivational atmosphere in the stadium. And since “ignition” means setting things on fire, a batter might want to send a message to the pitcher: I’m about to light you up, son.
3. “Game On” by Disciple
Song Year: 2012
If Rage Against the Machine was a Christian band, they’d probably be Disciple. “Game On” carries the same belligerent insistence that things that need to be said must be said immediately, and frontman Kevin Young’s rapid-fire lyrical delivery practically demands that the listener overcome any challenges. Like, this instant.
A bone-crushing guitar riff and direct references in the lyrics to actual sporting events make “Game On” a terrific walk-up song, and the heavy-metal leanings are sure to strike fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers.
4. “Battle Song” by Lecrae feat. Suzy Rock
Song Year: 2014
There’s a grandiose nature to Christian rapper Lecrae’s delivery. “Battle Song” is no exception, and as the song unfolds, the rapper seems to get more and more riled up.
As a walk-up song, “Battle Song” brings a driving beat and themes of empowerment. The singular focus of Lacrae’s voice can bring motivation to players and fans alike, and just about every player can use some of the encouragement the song’s lyrics impart.
5. “Comatose” by Skillet
Song Year: 2007
Players using “Comatose” won’t want to start the song at the beginning because it kicks off with deceptively lovely and chilled-out strings before giving way to the distorted guitars and thumping drumbeat that characterizes most Skillet songs.
But once the song goes back to sounding like it’s a Skillet song, it rocks pretty hard. Lyrically, players probably don’t want to pay a lot of attention since a comatose batter seems less than useless.
That said, it’s a catchy tune that brings high energy levels to a large group of people, like fans in the stands.
6. “Make War” by Tedashii
Song Year: 2011
Tedashii is intense on “Make War,” and while he’s urging his listeners to pursue spiritual warfare, the vibe can extend well to a batter. After all, you’re heading into battle with the pitcher, right?
The rapper’s delivery drives along with a relentless beat, and “Make War” is the kind of song you could see a whole team bouncing up and down together to. Also, since the lyrics touch on offering encouragement to listeners facing hard times, a player might benefit from a little pump-up.
7. “Ooh Ahh (My Life Be Like)” by Grits feat. TobyMac
Song Year: 2002
Grits isn’t the most well-known Christian rap outfit, but “Ooh Ahh (My Life Be Like)” is a solid piece of hip-hop. It’s got a beat you can’t help but bounce to, even if it’s just a little bit, and the positive message about relying on God to help with tough times is one anyone can afford to hear again.
As a walk-up song, that reliance on someone else— like a teammate— can be a vital sentiment for a team.
The song’s cool, and when TobyMac comes in for his guest spot, it’s just icing on the cake.
8. “Revolution” by Kirk Franklin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjLPMK1PcgQ
Song Year: 1998
You may not associate choral music with a walk-up song, baseball, or sports in general. But the choir on Kirk Franklin’s “Revolution” isn’t the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (no disrespect, but that’s a pretty straight-laced choral group). This choir raps over a driving New Jack beat and backs up Kirk Franklin’s insistent call for making things better for everyone.
When the backing vocals stop rapping and sing, they belt out a catchy hook that can unite a stadium full of fans into “oh-oh-oh”-ing as one.
Walking to the plate to this song, any batter with a pulse will feel some power and inspiration coming from the speakers.
9. “Where I Belong” by Building 429
Song Year: 2011
Even though the verses of “Where I Belong” are a little laid-back, the chorus has “singalong” written all over it. And even if a stadium full of fans doesn’t know the words, this song is the rare mid-tempo piece of music that still has some real drive to it.
Building 429 had a number-one hit with “Where I Belong,” so it’s not like it’s a completely unknown song. It can serve to inspire both the athletes and fans at the ballpark.
When left fielder David Murphy played for the Cleveland Indians, he was known to use “Where I Belong” as his walk-up song.
10. “Dang Girl” by Family Force 5
Song Year: 2012
Family Force 5 occupied an unusual niche in Christian music. They cultivated a party-all-the-time persona while still offering positive and uplifting lyrics. But they also and songs that bordered on being silly. If you remember what the Beastie Boys were doing at the beginning of their career in the 1980s, you can get an idea of the Family Force 5 milieu.
So “Dang Girl” isn’t the most well-known song, but it’s got a nearly industrial-sounding guitar line and a forceful beat that can amp up just about anyone. There are slices of punk, rock, and hip-hop in the song, and putting those three together is almost always a recipe for a song that can raise anyone’s adrenaline levels.
11. “Church Clap” by KB feat. Lecrae
Song Year: 2012
Calling “Church Clap” a Christian hip-hop song might, after a listen, seem like an understatement. It’s got “church” in the title and it’s got every element any great hip-hop song has. And the chorus, by virtue of its simplicity and repetition, is an invitation to a stadium-wide singalong if there ever was one.
It’s a high-energy song that can motivate players, and the beat alone is fire. KB’s delivery is dripping with confidence, something every batter can use a little more of.
Bringing “Church Clap” to the plate can rev up the crowd and pump up the batter— and the feeling might rub off on the next batter or two, as well.
12. “We Won’t Give Up” by The Afters
Song Year: 2013
The Afters crafted a driving, guitar-forward piece of Christian rock that seems to channel the mainstream rock of Muse. “We Won’t Give Up” pulses with drums and guitars that extol the virtues of perseverance.
The title alone is motivational, as giving up is the cardinal sin (no pun intended) of team sports. “We Won’t Give Up” is the type of walk-up song you want when it’s the bottom of the ninth and your team is behind by a run or two. If the bases are loaded, even better. There are few higher-pressure situations in baseball, and batters need all the help they can get.
13. “No Quit” by Derek Minor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KxWUmAv4_c
Song Year: 2019
Rapper Derek Minor released The Trap in 2019 and included “No Quit” as part of it. It’s an intense piece of hip-hop that, via its minor-key intensity, can amp up just about anyone who hears it.
It’s a song about facing challenges, so it can inspire confidence with its motivational message. A refusal to quit is something every athlete needs, but even the best of us can get discouraged and need a little reminder about the power of seeing things through.
14. “Let The Sparks Fly” by Thousand Foot Krutch
Song Year: 2012
Thousand Foot Krutch has always rocked. Hard. “Let The Sparks Fly” keeps that tradition intact with a face-melting guitar riff throughout and a chorus custom-made for a crowd to shout as one at the top of its lungs.
It’s a Christian song that is positive and uplifting while also being as in-your-face as Christian music gets. It’s an aggressive song that will send a message of determination from the batter to the pitcher as he leaves the on-deck circle. And if a piece of Christain music can intimidate a pitcher, that seems like a pretty cool (if ironic) thing.
15. “Lions” by Skillet
Song Year: 2016
With its message of courage and strength, “Lions” burned up the charts to reach number eight on the Hot Christian Songs chart. It’s got a booming beat from the snare drum that drives the chorus and its singalong feel.
The lyrics compare the listener to a lion, the embodiment of strength and power, making Skillet’s “Lions” an encouraging and uplifting song that any batter could draw some inspiration from as he faces a wicked curveball. Besides, what pitcher wants to face off against an apex predator?
16. “Stronger” by Mandisa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrcIN54E7Kk
Song Year: 2010
With Mandisa’s powerful voice, just about anything she sings can make for an inspiring and feel-good song for a batter to use for a walk-up.
“Stronger” has a reserved verse, but the chorus seems tailor-made for athletes. The number-one hit has served as an inspiring piece of music for many people, and it even won Mandisa a Grammy.
The message of overcoming challenges and drawing on one’s inner strength is a good one for athletes in any sport. If a batter’s team is the underdog, he can probably use all the help he can get.
17. “Red” by Rhema Soul
Song Year: 2011
This high-energy rap song is about being bold. Critics and fans loved it, and the Eminem vibes that the song gives off make it that much more of an insistent piece of music.
“Red” is a song about seeing what’s wrong in the world and getting angry enough to do something about it all. Determination is a keyword for this one, and an athlete without that drive is one destined to struggle at the plate, at the very least.
Having “Red” blare from the speakers during a walk-up can be an emboldening experience for the batter and the fans.
Best Christian Walk-Up Songs, Final Thoughts
Thiose were the top Christian walk-up songs ever. Christian music is an interesting genre in that contains sub-genres that differ greatly from each other. Whether a batter want a rock, pop, or hip-hop song for the walk-up routine, there are plenty of choices that fall under the Christian music label. Finding a walk-up song that’s got a positive message and can bring fun and high energy to a stadium full of fans can be a great thing.