There’s a lot of “country guys” on the Atlanta Braves, but one player in particular takes the cake.
Some members of the Braves recently sat down with us on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast. Third baseman Austin Riley, utility player Kyle Farmer, and the voice of the Braves Radio Network, Ben Ingram, all carved time out of their 162-game schedule to talk about their favorite country artists, how the locker room is full of “Ella Fellas,” and how the Atlanta Braves and country music have always been intertwined.
Austin Riley talked to us about how convenient it is for him that baseball season ends right when hunting season begins, Kyle Farmer (a Georgia native) discussed how fitting it is for him to be a member of the Braves at this point in his career, and Ben Ingram also gave some insight on how he takes care of his golden radio voice.
We got to spend a good amount of time with the Braves play-by-play announcer, and found out rather quickly that he’s got a great taste in music. Ingram told us that, ironically enough, he doesn’t find a lot of country artists through the radio. Rather, he relies on word of mouth from those around them… and based upon his list of favorite artists, it’s working out great:
“I love Turnpike Troubadours. I love Whiskey Myers. Big fan of Colter Wall, Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson. It’s a lot of stuff that you don’t hear on the radio. That’s where I gravitate to. Shane Smith and the Saints. Charles Wesley Godwin.”
Throw all of those names together and you’d have a heck of a playlist.
With that kind of country music taste, we felt as though Ben Ingram could be trusted to ascertain the “most country” guy on the Atlanta Braves. It didn’t take long for the voice of the Braves to throw out some names, and even provided one that many fans wouldn’t expect:
“Austin is definitely in the conversation. I’d probably start right there. I’d say… this might throw you for a loop, because when you think of ‘country,’ you think of American-born players. Martín Pérez is a rancher in Venezuela. He’s got hundred and hundreds head of cattle. In fact, I think he plays baseball so he can ranch. That’s his passion. That’s pretty country as well.”
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Though Ingram also mentioned Dylan Lee, Eli White, and Mike Yastrzemski in the conversation, it sounds to me like Pérez can comfortably take the title of “Most Country Braves Player.”
And speaking of country, there’s quite the celebration of country music coming up on June 13 at the Home of the Atlanta Braves. It’ll feature a stacked lineup including Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Ernest and Mackenzie Carpenter. The star-studded gathering of artists playing inside Truist Park makes for a can’t-miss event.
You can hear more from Austin Riley, Kyle Farmer and Ben Ingram of the Atlanta Braves by checking out the interview on YouTube or making sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here.
We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.
Cheers, y’all.
