Anyone who has followed Yasiel Puig closely since his arrival with the Dodgers less than a month ago (or even before) has undoubtedly noticed something interesting about him when he is kneeling in the on-deck circle – he writes something in the dirt with his finger. And then as he approaches the home plate circle, he draws a cross in the dirt with his bat.

During a post-game interview shortly after his arrival to the team, a reporter asked Puig (through his interpreter) what he writes in the dirt with his finger while he is in the on-deck circle. Puig told the reporter “I don’t want to talk about that.” Apparently not getting the message or the tone of Puig’s voice in his answer, the reporter persisted and asked “Do you write ‘Dios’ (God) in the dirt?” At this point, Hanley Ramirez, whose locker is located near Puig’s, interrupted (and rightfully so) and said to the reporter “If you already know the answer, why do you ask the question?” (Touché Hanley).

Obviously Puig’s writings and drawings are very personal and undoubtedly religion-based. They are also done in various forms by many athletes in virtually every professional sport; after all, these athletes are all truly blessed with such incredible talent to make it to the highest level of their respective sport, and giving thanks to the Lord is certainly understandable and perfectly acceptable in our society. In fact, it is something that I truly appreciate, having been raised in a Catholic family.

If doing this…

…helps Yasiel Puig do this, then keep on doing it!
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

There is something else that Puig fans have undoubtedly noticed about him when he walks up to the plate – his walk-up music. It is a very catchy tune with a great musical beat. It is also (of course) in Spanish, the language of his native Cuba.

Being a curious old-school guy with a new-school smartphone, I decided to “Shazam” Puig’s walk-up song to try to figure out what this catchy tune is – and I was successful. The song is entitled Papa Dios Me Dijo (Father God told me) by a Dominican-born urban music/rap/hip-hop/reggae artist named Odalis Perez (no, not that Odalis Perez), who goes by the stage name Secreto El Biberón (The Secret Baby Bottle). And while many may consider Papa Dios Me Dijo to be a gangsta-rap song, it is (in my opinion) more of a ‘growing up in the barrio’ type song – but then again, I am an old-school guy.

Regardless of the genre the song is, it is certainly no more offensive than walk-up songs used by many other Dodger players (or players throughout the league for that matter), and the fact that it is in Spanish tends to mitigate any interpretations of impropriety (for us non-Spanish speakers, at least). In fact, I actually like the song (my lack of Spanish notwithstanding).

For those who wish to hear Puig’s walk-up song in its entirety, simply click on the Odalis Perez link above.

Viva Puig!