Johnson gets a musical surprise when he gets to the plate

weather_girls_raining_menBaseball is a psychological game. Players are looking for any mental edge they can get, and a lot of players rely on music to give them a little extra motivation.

Players used to just have to listen to music in the clubhouse or on headphones before the game, but a few years back, we got the innovation of at-bat music. Each player gets a personal pick of tunes when he strides to the plate (or comes in out of the bullpen). It’s like an iTunes playlist with a jock strap.

But when Diamondbacks’ Kelly Johnson made his way from the on-deck circle to the plate for his first at-bat against San Diego’s Kevin Correia on Tuesday night, he got a little surprise.

Instead of his normal batting anthem, “King Without a Crown” by Matisyahu, Johnson was greeted by the unmistakable melody and lyrics of “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls–not exactly a song equated with pro athletes getting pumped up.

The D-backs’ dugout exploded in laughter, and Johnson couldn’t help but crack a smile either (his reaction in the video below is classic).

The culprit of the practical joke? First baseman Adam LaRoche, who sat out of Tuesday’s game with an injury. “It was a good one,” catcher Miguel Montero said. “He was laughing at the plate, like ‘what is this?’” Montero said LaRoche has been planning the joke for a week.

So how did hard-nosed manager Kirk Gibson receive the joke? With a smile, of course. “It’s definitely a better mood, for sure. That’s good stuff,” Gibson said.

By the way, Johnson was 0-for-2 in his “It’s Raining Men” at-bats, so I don’t think it’ll stick. Thank God.

Johnson’s first at-bat



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