Jay Putty just blasted John Fogerty‘s diamond classic “Centerfield” straight out of the park with a cover that’s pure summer adrenaline. Released July 4th, it’s a roots-rock celebration that nails the crack of the bat, the smell of fresh-cut grass, and that electric ballpark buzz. Putty steps up to the plate and sends it soaring over the fences.
This Billboard-charting singer-songwriter from small-town Indiana, now rocking it in Nashville, knows exactly what makes this song tick. Working with producer Kevin Gates, the track thumps with real Americana energy. Not your typical Fourth of July cheese – Putty’s “Centerfield” hits you with pure, uncomplicated joy, unity, and that timeless rush of getting called into the game. It’s a feel-good song full of serious punch and heart, landing right when we need it: peak summer.
Putty doesn’t only sing this thing – he breathes it. His connection runs deep: “This song is a love letter to baseball, nostalgia, and the people who raised me,” he shares, remembering his first Cardinals game at six months old, learning to throw from his mom, and having his dad coach him. That realness pours through every chord and drum hit. You can feel those backyard games, the family bonds, the raw thrill of the sport. He takes Fogerty’s original and turns it into a powerful time machine, fuelled by his trademark mix of rootsy charm and emotional grit.
Coming hot on the heels of his acclaimed EP Mountains and Valleys and recent high-profile spots like Today in Nashville and WKRN, “Centerfield” hits us with a whole new side of Putty’s talent. We’ve seen this guy transform the darkest stuff – losing people to cancer, making it through a house fire, fighting his own demons – into songs that actually lift you up. But here? He’s bringing nothing but pure, feel-good rock energy. Turns out his range stretches way beyond what we thought.
This cover is straight-up rock and roll rocket fuel. Putty and Gates totally nail what makes this song tick. It’s loud, it’s proud, and man, it’s made for blasting with your windows down on some scorching summer highway. It’s the sound of summer captured on tape: a rally cry, a celebration, a damn fine rock song. Jay Putty didn’t merely cover “Centerfield”; he reclaimed it for a new generation, proving he’s got the chops to play in the big leagues.