Q&A with Ryan Noda

This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

OAKLAND -- Ryan Noda is one of a few A’s players who is thriving in his first real chance at the big league level.

Entering Monday’s game against the Yankees, the rookie first baseman led all Major League rookies with a .411 on-base percentage and ranked second in walks with 21.

Seeing so many pitches in one plate appearance on a consistent basis requires focus. For Noda, music helps him get into that right state of mind, particularly the music he hears while walking to the plate for home games at the Oakland Coliseum. We discuss that and more in this week’s edition of Walk-Up Chronicles:

MLB.com: You’ve been walking up to "Narrow Road" by NLE Choppa and "Bounce Back" by A Boogie wit da Hoodie at the Coliseum this season. What was the inspiration behind those two selections?

Noda: With my walk-up songs, it’s basically just like, what makes me get in a different zone? Those two songs get me going. They get me locked in and ready to go.

MLB.com: Are you big into hip-hop or do you like different genres and who are some of your favorite artists?

Noda: Oh yeah. A Boogie wit da Hoodie is my favorite artist. I like a lot of rap, but he’s definitely my go-to. NLE Choppa, I like a few of his songs. "Narrow Road" is definitely at the top.

MLB.com: What are some other walk-up songs you’ve used in the past?

Noda: "Hard Knock Life" by Jay-Z. I had that in High-A when we were in Florida and had 10 fans a game. That was kind of just the mood of the whole season. I’ve had "Hustlin’"by Rick Ross. I actually had "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed at one point. But I’ve had "Narrow Road" going on about three years now.

MLB.com: Minors or Majors, is there another walk-up song other than your own that you’ve heard that stuck out as one you really enjoyed?

Noda: I forget who it was, but there was a guy from Chicago and he had "My Story" by 2 Chainz and it was kind of cool because the song brought up being from Chicago. I thought that was pretty sick.

MLB.com: Do you usually stick to the same walk-up songs for the whole season or do you like to switch it up?

Noda: I’ll change up here and there depending on the flow. I think I did my song last year to "Vegas" by Doja Cat for about a week and then I changed it back. The song worked, but I wanted my old one back. Sometimes, I just need something new for a week.