This postseason, whenever Dodgers fans heard “Bailalo Rocky” over the loudspeakers, it meant two things were in store: pitcher Rocky Sasaki was about to throw some vicious splitters in relief, and the Dodgers were probably just a few outs away from winning.
Sasaki's music has taken on a life of its own, in part due to Los Angeles' only culture clash, in which a sensational Japanese pitcher takes on a Latin club hit, dominating the postseason. It helped cement Sasaki's appeal among the Latino Dodgers faithful and gave the song huge global momentum as the Dodgers prepare for today's World Series kickoff.
Here's a quick look at how Sasaki found his hype track and how it became a smash hit in Los Angeles this fall.
So who wrote “Bailalo Rocky”?
Sasaki's version of the song was written by DJ Roderick and DJ Jose Gonzalez and vocalist Ariadna Arana (there is another popular version of Arana by Dominican MC Yoan Retro and GMBeats Degranalo).
The song is a super infectious and singable demo-house track with a Spanish chorus of “¡Báilalo, Rocky! / Ta, ta, ta, ta / Suéltale, suéltale” is an invitation for a guy to dance and have fun. But here we are talking about the young phenom Sasaki, who baffles hitters when he comes out in relief. The way Arana delivers the hook sounds like she's singing straight into “Rocky Dodgers.”
It's the left field option for the 23-year-old pitcher from Japan, who is in his first year in Los Angeles. How did Sasaki discover this?
Veteran Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas played the song during spring training this year, where it became a bench favorite. (The entire dugout has been known to bang against the railings when the road meets the tracks.) Sasaki began using it in April, before a four-month recovery from a pinched right shoulder.
The theme song “was actually MiggyRo's idea,” Sasaki told press in Japanese last week. “I’m really glad the fans like it.”
There's a delicious incongruity in the way the shy, laser-focused young Japanese pitcher approaches the horny Latino club hoodlum. But since Sasaki recovered from a serious midseason injury to pitch for the Dodgers in the postseason, “it was something special,” Rojas told the press last week. “I feel like it suits him very well.”
For his part, Arana I like the new life of the song as a popular Dodger theme. “The Dodgers are my team,” she said.
Did Sasaki's blessing improve the track?
Definitely. The song was already popular in Latin music circles and became a cover version and source material for Latin artists such as Corridos Tumbados. singer Tito Doble P. And Lomiel. Even other athletes, such as Spanish soccer superstar Lamin Yamal, hit the track as a meme. It has racked up tens of millions of views on Spotify and YouTube, where almost every comment is now related to Sasaki.
But, of course, the only place where you can really hear it is under cotton candy sky at the Champs Elysees.
Did this help Sasaki's pitching?
In September, Sasaki played for Triple-A Oklahoma City and seemed unlikely to win a roster spot in Los Angeles anytime soon. But two months later, after making saves and stunning speed against the Reds, Phillies and Brewers en route to the World Series, he had “one of the greatest performances I can remember,” as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called it.
Sasaki isn't the only Dodger with a surprise Latin track—last year's World Series hero Freddie Freeman gives the plate to Daivi and Victor Cardenas' “Baila Conmigo (feat. Kelly Ruiz).”
But if the Dodgers take home the title thanks to Sasaki's saves, Rojas is hoping for a full version of “Bailalo Rocky.” “I think he deserves a video when the lights go out and stuff.” Rojas told MLB.com. “I think this is the next step for him.”
