All walkup legends
Thunderstruck album artwork
Braves Closer / Starter · 1988–2009 · Hall of Fame 2015

John Smoltz Entrance Song

Thunderstruck album artwork
Iconic entrance song
Thunderstruck
by AC/DC
Listen on

What was John Smoltz's entrance song?

John Smoltz's entrance song was "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC with the Atlanta Braves during his 1988–2009 career. When John Smoltz served as the Braves' closer, AC/DC's “Thunderstruck” blasted as he came out of the bullpen — replacing an earlier joke entrance to ABBA's “Dancing Queen.”

Atlanta walkup culture is led by Ronald Acuña Jr. For more on the Braves' walkup tradition and current roster picks, see the Atlanta Braves walkup page.

Why "Thunderstruck" works as a walkup

The opening guitar lick is the most recognizable 5 seconds in walkup music. There's no slow build, no buried hook — the song hits at full energy in second one. The riff repeats and builds, so even a long trim window stays interesting. And every fan of every age recognizes it instantly.

For the full breakdown — BPM, the trim point that hits, notable users, and pairings — see the "Thunderstruck" walkup song breakdown.

Set up a Smoltz-style walkup for your team

Want a kid on your team to come to the plate (or jog in from the bullpen) like Smoltz? It takes about a minute in Walkup Pro:

  1. Add the player to your roster
  2. Search "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC and assign it
  3. Set a custom trim so the best 15–20 seconds plays — for "Thunderstruck" that's usually the hook, not the intro
  4. Connect a Bluetooth speaker at the field and tap to play on game day

For more, see the greatest closer entrance songs in baseball and the anatomy of the perfect walkup song.

More walkup & entrance legends

Walk up like a legend

Build your roster, assign songs, set custom trims, and tap to play on game day. Free for up to 3 players.

Download Walkup Pro — Free