The personal ties behind Thomas' new walkup music
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This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WASHINGTON -- After 2 1/2 seasons, Lane Thomas has new walkup music.
The outfielder had gone with “Dirt on My Boots” for his entire tenure with the Nationals. Many players have multiple songs or change their selection throughout the season, but Thomas had stuck with the 2016 Jon Pardi hit.
“It’s been a long time,” Thomas said.
But when Thomas walked to the plate on Wednesday, the familiar lyrics “Might have a little dirt on my boots, but I'm takin' you uptown tonight” were replaced with Alan Jackson’s 2001 hit “Where I Come From.”
“I grew up listening to Alan Jackson, so I just thought, 'Why not choose one of his songs?'” said Thomas, who's from Knoxville, Tenn.
The early results: The Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak with Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Mets.
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“I’m not that superstitious,” Thomas said with a smile on Friday. “But maybe there’s something to it.”
Thomas took changing his walkup music one step further on Friday. For the first time, he added a second melody to his rotation: “You Look Like You Love Me” by Ella Langley and Riley Green.
This song has a very personal meaning to Thomas: His wife, Chase, sings it to their infant son.
“It’s so cool,” Thomas said. “I don’t want to say they’re the only reason why I play the game, but you’ve got to play the game to support your people now. It definitely puts a little more perspective on the job and what you do it for.”
Fans on social media took notice of Thomas’ musical edit. As a former leadoff hitter (and current No. 2 hitter), his song choice kicked off the Nats' lineup at Nationals Park.
“Sometimes I don’t even hear [my song], because you’re just walking and it’s like another noise,” Thomas said. “But I think that’s kind of cool [that] they pay attention enough and support us enough to know when we change something like that."