When Mets closer Jeurys Familia exits the bullpen this season, he’ll run onto the mound to the notes of his own personal anthem.
The pitcher’s catchy new walkout song, “Somos Familia,” was written and recorded specially for him by his favorite bachata artist (and fellow Dominican), Zacarias Ferreira.
“This is huge,” Familia tells The Post. “Having my own song will give me that something extra when I step onto the mound.” Although the Mets kick off their season tonight in Kansas City, Mo., the song will premiere at the first home game, on Friday against the Phillies.
While walkout and at-bat songs are an important part of modern Major League Baseball culture, a player collaborating with a singer to create original music is upping the game.
Many players chose songs to reflect their regional pride: Yankee outfielder and South Carolina native Brett Gardner walks up to the plate to “Muckalee Creek Water” by country crooner Luke Bryan. Others’ songs highlight their incredible egos. A-Rod’s at-bat song during the 2007 season was Mims’ “This Is Why I’m Hot.”
Familia’s custom tune was suggested by Jamar Chess, head of Ferreira’s record label, Sunflower Entertainment Group, who wanted to combine the Dominican Republic’s two biggest exports: baseball players and music.
Ferreira and Familia met at a Midtown recording studio in February, and the singer was inspired to pen lyrics related to Familia’s humble childhood. Translated from Spanish: “This is what I dreamed as a child / I always wanted to be here ... I have my heart in my hands like a fireball.”
“If you give your best, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. You always go back to your family because you proved to them that you gave it your best,” says Ferreira, who’s had two singles reach the Top Five of Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart, through a translator.
Familia first heard the song two weeks ago and says it’s been stuck in his head ever since.
The idea of adding popular music to the game started in 1970 with Nancy Faust, an organist for the White Sox organization.
Until then, ballpark organists were playing old-timey tunes. Faust would inject humor and spontaneity as players took the field — like by playing “It’s a Small World” if the batter was of short stature.
“The personalized music was a fun thing that was unique to our park,” Faust recalls. Things changed in the ’80s with technological advancements — and the Cleveland Indians.
“My boss said, ‘The Indians are playing the song that the player wants,’” she says. After that, she was joined by a DJ. “Before, it was a reflection of the player for the amusement of the fans, until technology came along that enabled players to indulge.”
The concept really took off in 1989, when the movie “Major League” came out and Charlie
Sheen’s character, Rick Vaughn, strutted onto the field to “Wild Thing.”
Ex Yankee slugger Aaron Boone — who used Nelly’s “Here Comes the Boom” — says songs build mystique.
“There was something about playing in San Diego and you’re down in the ninth, and [closer] Trevor Hoffman comes out to [AC/DC’s] ‘Hells Bells,’ ” says Boone, now an analyst for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.” “It made it feel kind of awesome, even if you were on the other side.”
Not all of the Mets have chosen their 2016 songs yet, but Jacob deGrom is sticking with “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Lucas Duda with Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower.” Noah Syndergaard will walk to the “Game of Thrones” theme. Matt Harvey has a Jay Z/U2 mix.
You’ve gotta wonder if, with Familia orchestrating personalized tunes, others will get more competitive.
“I think it will spark some jealousy,” says Chess. “I can see players saying to their agents, ‘Call Jay Z. I want my own song’.”
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