JUPITER, Fla. -- The hottest DJ set this spring isn’t at a Miami nightclub rather at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex. Workouts can feel long in the unforgiving South Florida heat leading up to Grapefruit League action. That’s where Marlins clubhouse attendant José Oviedo comes in. Oviedo, who enters his seventh season with the organization, was tasked with putting together Spring Training music playlists that blare from large speakers on the back fields. It wasn’t a random ask, considering Oviedo does the same inside the visiting clubhouse at loanDepot park during the regular season. “I'm very passionate about the music,” Oviedo said. “It's like a hobby to me. Never been a DJ before. I wish I had the skills. It's a hobby to me. I like it. It's my favorite hobby besides sports and baseball. “In sport, it's essential, it's part of the game. Those guys like artists. They're celebrities, so it's something in common between them. And music is universal. Some of the guys, they don't know the lyrics, but they can feel the vibes from the music. It's like a link. It's attached to the vibe, to the sport, basically.” |
Every morning, the music is turned on when the clubhouse opens. It’s usually country, jazz or R&B to ease everyone into the day’s work. Players can request specific songs or genres like bachata, but oftentimes they leave it up to Oviedo. Of Oviedo’s 15 Spotify playlists -- some of which feature 60-70 songs -- the Latin mix is his favorite. It’s common to hear a wide range of artists from Post Malone to Toto to Morgan Wallen. Oviedo’s favorites Michael Jackson and Bad Bunny make appearances. So does his perfect baseball song: Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle.” “I can catch the vibes around here in the clubhouse,” Oviedo said. “It's a multicultural team. I'm from Venezuela, Caribbean guy, Latin guy, so the music is so important to us. “Sometimes it's like, ‘OK, it's Sunday, let's play something more chill.’ Or Saturday, ‘Let's hype the guys.’ Or, ‘It's Monday, let's start with something kind of cool, and then hype it up.’” Some guys like shortstop Xavier Edwards sing along under their breath. Others like second baseman Otto Lopez dance to the salsa, reggaeton and dembow beats. |
It’s hard not to jam when the tunes stream from an iPad at full volume. Rumor has it they can be heard on the Cardinals’ side of the complex. “It gets us through it,” said Edwards, whose favorite artist is Travis Scott. “It kind of makes us lose track of time and just enjoy where we're at. It's a bit different when it's all quiet and kind of serious and business like. We're still getting after it, but it can be a little more light hearted, and we can have fun with it.” Added Lopez: “It just hyped me up. It’s very loud, too, but that's one of the things, part of when we're running. I just feel like we're in the stadium.” You’ll hear no complaints from manager Clayton McCullough. The Marlins don’t shut off the music unless it’s time to practice communication drills. During a rare moment of quiet on Wednesday morning, No. 19 prospect Victor Mesa Jr. could be heard shouting, “OTTO! GET OUT THE WAY!” on a shallow fly ball to right field. “Love the music,” said McCullough, whose favorite artist is Pearl Jam. “Environment and atmosphere is a big deal. When you're presenting something to players, but just even being out here and having the music going, we're going to demand and expect that they work hard -- and they will. The music vibes are good. It feels right, gets everybody a little bit looser. And golly, the stale quietness [isn’t fun]. I've nothing to do with the selections, but they've been on point.” With unanimously positive feedback, Oviedo won’t need to give up the aux cord any time soon. “Hopefully I'm not going to be a one-hit wonder,” Oviedo teased. |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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The Marlins announced that FanDuel Sports Network will broadcast five Spring Training games:
• March 11, 16, 18 vs. the Cardinals (shared broadcast)
• March 17 vs. the Mets
• March 20 vs. the Astros The Marlins’ English-language flagship station, FOX Sports 940 AM Miami, will broadcast audio from 15 of the club’s 30 Spring Training games, including Saturday’s opener at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. An additional 12 games, including the Spring Breakout on March 14, can be found exclusively on the MLB App. Fans can tune into the Spanish radio broadcast on Radio Mambí 710 AM WAQI or on the MLB App for 10 Grapefruit League games. |
GRAMMY-nominated artists Luis Fonsi and Flo Rida will hold an on-field concert following the Opening Day matchup between the Pirates and Marlins on March 27 at loanDepot park. That duo joins Miami’s season-opening festivities, which include a first pitch thrown by Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino. Visit Marlins.com/OpeningDay for tickets and more information. |
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