MLB Network Personalities
Yonder Alonso
Yonder Alonso, a 10-year Major League veteran and 2017 MLB All-Star, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
During his playing career, Alonso compiled 872 hits with 426 RBI, 181 doubles and 100 home runs in 1072 Major League games. Alonso began his career with the Cincinnati Reds (2010-11), before joining the San Diego Padres (2012-15), Oakland Athletics (2016-17), Seattle Mariners (2017), Cleveland Indians (2018), Chicago White Sox (2019) and Colorado Rockies (2019). Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in Round 16 of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft then the Reds in Round 1 of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, before spending his career primarily as a first baseman.
Alonso has contributed to MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM since retiring from baseball, a role in which he will continue.
Greg Amsinger
Ruben Amaro, Jr.
Ruben Amaro, Jr., a veteran front office executive, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network’s programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
Following his eight-year playing career as an outfielder, Amaro was named the assistant general manager for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1998 before ascending to the role of executive vice president and general manager in November 2008. The Phillies captured the National League East division title in 2009, 2010 and 2011, the first three years under Amaro’s direction. During his tenure, the Phillies won the 2009 National League pennant, and finished with the best record in the Major Leagues in 2010 and 2011.
Following his time with the Phillies, Amaro transitioned to the field as the Boston Red Sox first base coach in 2016 and 2017, before becoming the Mets first base coach in 2018. Amaro moved to the Mets’ front office as a special advisor in 2019. Amaro also contributes to NBC Sports Philadelphia as a Phillies analyst.
A.J. Andrews
A.J. Andrews is an MLB Network studio host appearing across multiple programs, including the kids-focused weekly interview and demonstration show Play Ball during the regular season.
Andrews’ collegiate softball career began with Louisiana State University (2012-15) – where she participated in two Women’s College World Series – before joining the Chicago Bandits (2015) of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and the Akron Racers (2016) as an outfielder, becoming the first women to ever win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Prior to college softball, Andrews played for Countryside High School in Clearwater, Fla. and was named Pinellas County Player of the Year, leading the state in stolen bases and batting average as a senior. Andrews also serves as an in-studio analyst for the SEC Network and hosts for the likes of BETMGM, PlayersTV, and ESPN's special 'Unapologetic the Black Female Athlete'.
Alex Avila
Alex Avila, a 13-year Major League veteran and 2011 MLB All-Star, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network’s programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
During his playing career, Avila collected 714 hits, 352 runs, 297 RBI, 155 doubles and 105 home runs in 1,052 Major League games. In 2011, Avila received the Silver Slugger award as a catcher by posting 137 hits, 82 RBI, 33 doubles and 19 home runs in a career-high 141 games. Defensively in 2011, Avila ranked first in defensive games as a catcher (133), caught stealing as a catcher (40) and double plays turned as a catcher (14).
Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in Round 5 of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, Avila would go on to spend eight years in Detroit (2009-15 & 2017) before joining the Chicago White Sox (2016), Chicago Cubs (2017), Arizona Diamondbacks (2018-19), Minnesota Twins (2020) and Washington Nationals (2021).
Avila, who had a standout career for the University of Alabama, made six different trips to the Postseason, including playing a key role on the 2012 American League champion Tigers. Avila initially served as a guest analyst on MLB Network during the 2021 Postseason.
Sean Casey
Sean Casey, a three-time All-Star and 12-year Major League first baseman, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight, the Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days and MLB Network's special event coverage throughout the year.
Casey batted .302 with 130 home runs and 735 RBI in his career. Casey played for the Cleveland Indians (1997), Cincinnati Reds (1998-2005), Pittsburgh Pirates (2006), Detroit Tigers (2006-2007) and Boston Red Sox (2008). Casey finished in the top-10 in National League batting average three times in his career and had six seasons in which he hit better than .300.
After being traded to Detroit on the 2006 Trade Deadline day, Casey quickly became an integral part of Detroit's lineup and helped spur the club to its first American League pennant in 22 years. Casey was the Tigers' most productive hitter in the Postseason, going 16-for-37 overall - good for a .432 average - and shined in the World Series, his first, going 9-for-17 (.529) with a pair of home runs and five RBI.
The University of Richmond graduate received the Ernie Lombardi Award in 2004 as the Reds' most valuable player, and in June 2012, Casey was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame.
Known as "The Mayor," Casey, one of baseball's most outgoing and likeable players, was voted "Friendliest Player in Baseball" by his fellow players in a May 2007 Sports Illustrated poll. Casey has received many honors for his service to the community, including the Hutch Award in 1999 and the Joe Nuxhall "Good Guy" Award in both 1999 and 2004. His charity, Casey's Clubhouse, founded the Miracle League of the South Hills in Pennsylvania to provide children with a place to play baseball no matter their physical challenges.
Bob Costas
Twenty-eight-time Emmy Award winner and Hall of Fame award-winning broadcaster Bob Costas is a host and announcer for MLB Network. Costas serves as a play-by-play announcer for the MLB Network Showcase series and contributes to MLB Network’s studio programming and special event coverage throughout the year.
Beginning in June 2020, Costas and Tom Verducci have co-hosted MLB Network’s series The Sounds of Baseball. The tribute series to baseball’s iconic voices has featured Jon Miller, Mel Allen, Red Barber, Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Joe Garagiola, Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, Al Michaels, Vin Scully and Bob Uecker in its first year.
In 2018, Costas was honored with the Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball, voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and awarded during the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Regarded as one of the best interviewers in broadcasting, Costas has spoken with the biggest names in baseball and beyond for MLB Network, including Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout; Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson, Ferguson Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Don Larsen, Juan Marichal, Tom Seaver and Joe Torre; Hall of Fame Award-winning broadcaster Ernie Harwell; and President Barack Obama at the 2009 All-Star Game.
In 2011, Costas co-hosted with Tom Verducci MLB Network's landmark series MLB's 20 Greatest Games, which ranked the top-20 games of the previous 50 seasons. The series featured interviews with key players, managers and broadcasters from each game, including Jack Morris and John Smoltz discussing Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, the No. 2-ranked game, and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, 1975 MVP and Rookie of the Year Fred Lynn, Pete Rose, Bernie Carbo, Dwight Evans, Pat Darcy and Denny Doyle talking about Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, which was ranked by MLB Network as the No. 1 greatest game of the previous 50 seasons.
Costas also contributes to MLB Network's breaking news coverage throughout the year. In January 2010, Costas conducted the exclusive first television interview with Mark McGwire following his admission of steroid use during his playing career. Costas also secured the first interview with Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts after she broke the news in February 2009 of Alex Rodriguez's use of performance enhancing drugs.
Throughout his career, Costas has hosted coverage of many significant baseball events, covering the American League Championship Series in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Costas covered the NLCS in 1999, and called the 1995, 1997 and 1999 World Series and the 2000 All-Star Game. From 1982 to 1989, Costas was the play-by-play announcer on NBC's Baseball Game of the Week telecasts.
Costas is the author of Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball, which received excellent reviews and made the New York Times Best Seller list in 2002. The book's net proceeds were donated to B.A.T. (Baseball Assistance Team), a charity providing financial assistance to those in need in the baseball family.
Outside of MLB Network, Costas served as NBC's primetime host for a U.S.-television record 11 Olympic Games - every Olympics on NBC since 1992, including the 2012 London Games, which is the most-watched television event in U.S. history, reaching 217 million viewers - before passing the torch to Mike Tirico in February 2017. From 2006 to 2016, Costas served as the host of the critically acclaimed and most-watched weekly studio show in sports, Football Night in America. He was also host of Football Night, the pregame show for NBC's Thursday Night Football package, in its debut 2016 season. Costas has also served as host of NBC's presentation of the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, as well as U.S. Open and Ryder Cup coverage, and as a contributor on CNN.
From 2005 to 2009, Costas hosted Costas Now on HBO, a quarterly one-hour sports magazine program. From 2001 to 2005, Costas hosted HBO's On The Record, a weekly interview program. Costas also hosted HBO's Inside the NFL from 2002 to 2008.
Costas hosted NBA Showtime, NBC Sports' NBA pregame show, from 1991 through the 1996 season, and was NBC's top play-by-play man for NBA on NBC game telecasts between 1997 and 2000. Costas' call of Michael Jordan's game-winning shot in the deciding Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals is considered one of sportscasting's most memorable calls of the modern era.
Costas began the popular Costas Coast-to-Coast nationally syndicated Sunday night sports radio talk and interview show, which ran from 1986 to 1996. From 1988 to 1994, he hosted his own Emmy Award-winning late-night interview television show for NBC, Later.
Costas handled regional NFL and NBA assignments for CBS Sports from 1976 to 1981, while working as the radio voice of University of Missouri basketball.
Costas has been honored as Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association (NSSA) a record eight times and was the youngest to receive such an honor when he won the award in 1985. Costas was inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame in June 2012 and he received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism from Arizona State University in October 2012. He also received the 2019 Sam Lacy-Wendell Smith Award from the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism. In March 2000, Costas was named Favorite Sportscaster at the TV Guide Awards.
Costas began his broadcasting career in 1974 at WSYR in Syracuse, where he attended the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Ron Darling
Ron Darling, a 1985 National League All-Star and 13-year Major League pitcher, is an MLB Network offseason studio analyst, where he regularly appears on the Emmy Award-winning flagship show MLB Tonight and the daily offseason morning show Hot Stove. Darling joined MLB Network in 2013.
Since beginning his broadcasting career in 2000, Darling has won two Emmy Awards for Best Sports Analyst for his work covering the New York Mets on SportsNet New York (SNY), and he works as a game analyst for Turner Sports' MLB regular season and Postseason coverage.
Over his pitching career, Darling collected 136 wins with a 3.87 ERA and won the World Series with the Mets in 1986. Darling also won 17 games for the 1988 NL East champion Mets and was the first Mets pitcher to be awarded the Gold Glove Award in 1989. Darling began his MLB career with the Mets (1983-1991) and spent time with the Montreal Expos (1991) and Oakland Athletics (1991-1995).
Ryan Dempster
Ryan Dempster, a 16-year MLB pitcher and 2013 World Series champion, is the co-host of MLB Network’s “Intentional Talk” alongside Kevin Millar and Siera Santos. In addition to his MLB Network role, Dempster contributes to the Marquee Sports Network as both a game and studio analyst.
A two-time National League All-Star, Dempster won 132 games and saved 87 games during 16 seasons as a starter and a reliever. He pitched 200 innings or more in seven seasons, including two seasons with more than 200 strikeouts.
Dempster began his career with the Florida Marlins (1998-2002) and Cincinnati Reds (2002-2003), and after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2003, Dempster spent nine seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2004-2012) before joining the Texas Rangers (2012). After starting 29 games in 2013 for the Boston Red Sox, Dempster closed out Game 1 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, on the way to the Red Sox's third championship in 10 years. Dempster currently serves as a special advisor to the Chicago Cubs.
In 2000, Dempster received the James "Tip" O'Neill Award from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, and he was the Chicago Cubs' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for community service in 2006 and 2008. A native of Gibsons, British Columbia, Dempster was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Mark DeRosa
Mark DeRosa, a 16-year Major League veteran, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming. During the regular season, DeRosa co-hosts MLB Network's weekday morning show MLB Central alongside Robert Flores and Lauren Shehadi. MLB Central features extensive on-field highlights, context on the latest news and interviews with guests, celebrities and insiders from around the league. DeRosa initially served as a guest analyst on MLB Network during the 2011 and 2013 Postseasons, and joined MLB Network in November of 2013. He also appears on the Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days.
Known for his versatility, DeRosa played six different positions and batted .268 with 100 home runs and 494 RBI in his career. DeRosa batted .358 with 10 RBIs in 22 career Postseason games and was a member of the 2010 World Series champion San Francisco Giants. DeRosa spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves (1998-2004) before joining the Texas Rangers (2005-2006), Chicago Cubs (2007-2008), Cleveland Indians (2009), St. Louis Cardinals (2009), Giants (2010-2011), Washington Nationals (2012) and Toronto Blue Jays (2013).
DeRosa received the John Cerutti Award after the 2013 season, presented annually by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America to the player who best represents the spirit of the late Blue Jays pitcher. DeRosa attended the University of Pennsylvania where he was the starting shortstop for the baseball team and the starting quarterback for the football team.
Robert Flores
Robert Flores is a host appearing across MLB Network's studio programming. During the regular season, Flores co-hosts MLB Network's weekday morning show MLB Central alongside Mark DeRosa and Lauren Shehadi. MLB Central features extensive on-field highlights, context on the latest news and interviews with guests, celebrities and insiders from around the league.
Flores joined MLB Network and NHL Network in 2016 from ESPN, where he anchored SportsCenter, ABC's college football studio updates and ESPN2's Fantasy Football Now. Flores joined ESPN in 2005 as an ESPNews anchor and later contributed to a variety of studio shows, including Baseball Tonight, NBA Fastbreak and Friday Night Fights.
A native of Houston, Texas, Flores earned his bachelor's degree in radio and television from the University of Houston in 1992. Flores attended J. Frank Dobie High School in Houston and is a member of their JFD Hall of Fame.
Cliff Floyd
Cliff Floyd, a 17-year Major League veteran and 1997 World Series champion, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
During his playing career, Floyd batted .278 with 1,479 hits, 233 home runs and 865 RBI as an outfielder and first baseman. Floyd was named to the National League All-Star team in 2001, when he batted .317 with 31 home runs and 103 RBI for the Florida Marlins. Defensively, Floyd led all National League outfielders with 15 assists in 2005 while with the New York Mets. Floyd was a part of four Postseason teams, including the 1997 World Series champion Marlins. Floyd broke into MLB with the Montreal Expos (1993-1996, 2002), and spent time with the Marlins (1997-2002), Boston Red Sox (2002), Mets (2003-2006), Chicago Cubs (2007), Tampa Bay Rays (2008) and San Diego Padres (2009).
Floyd's previous experience in broadcasting includes serving as an expert host on SiriusXM Fantasy Baseball. Floyd has also worked as a pre- and postgame analyst for Marlins games on FOX Sports Florida and has worked an analyst on NBC Sports Network's SportsTalk.
Peter Gammons
Hall of Fame award-winning baseball writer Peter Gammons is an MLB Network insider, continuing an illustrious 50-year career in journalism that has reshaped the very coverage of the game. Gammons provides analysis and commentary on breaking news and special events, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame election announcement, Trade Deadline, First-Year Player Draft, Winter Meetings, All-Star Game and Postseason coverage. Gammons regularly appears on the offseason morning show Hot Stove. Gammons also contributes to the Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days and does studio work for short documentary-style pieces.
In 2005, Gammons was honored with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award for outstanding baseball writing, voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and awarded during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y. Gammons earned National Sportswriter of the Year honors in 1989, 1990 and 1993 from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) and was awarded an honorary Poynter Fellow from Yale University. In 2018, the Cape Cod Baseball League announced the unveiling of their new "Peter Gammons Award for Excellence and Distinction," which is given to a person or an organization that has made unique and exceptional contributions to the league through development and performance.
Prior to joining MLB Network in 2009, Gammons served as a baseball analyst for ESPN, beginning in 1988, and was a writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. He began reporting in 1969, for the Boston Globe, where he began a signature weekly Sunday baseball notes column that has been since become a staple of baseball news coverage. Gammons covered the NHL, college basketball and Major League Baseball for Sports Illustrated between 1976 and 1990 and serves as a contributor to Baseball America. In 1984, Gammons wrote the critically acclaimed book Beyond the Sixth Game, a look at free agency.
Lauren Gardner
Lauren Gardner is a studio host appearing across MLB Network's programming, including Off Base, MLB Network’s new regular-season afternoon program. The daily program originates from a reimagined set inside Studio 21 with a rotation of guest panelists offering a variety of perspectives, outside-the-box thinking and a passion for baseball that will be infectious to the next generation of fans.
In addition to her role at MLB Network, Gardner serves as a studio host for NHL Network.
Prior to arriving at MLB Network, Gardner appeared on Altitude Sports Network, hosting pre and postgame shows for the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. Gardner has covered the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball and multiple Super Bowls for CBS Sports, AT&T SportsNet, FOX Sports Ohio, MTV2, ESPN and the Smithsonian Channel.
Gardner, a Denver native, began her professional career as an intern at FOX Sports Rocky Mountain and Mile High Sports Magazine. Gardner graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a political science degree, before becoming a Denver Broncos cheerleader.
Jon Heyman
Jon Heyman is an insider appearing across MLB Network's programming. Throughout the year, Heyman contributes to the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight as well as MLB Network's Trade Deadline coverage, National Baseball Hall of Fame coverage and the offseason morning show Hot Stove.
In addition to his work for MLB Network, Heyman is an MLB insider for Fancred Sports and regularly contributes to WFAN Radio in New York.
Prior to joining Fancred Sports, Heyman was a baseball insider for CBSSports.com and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, where he wrote the "Inside Baseball" column, and "The Daily Scoop" for SI.com, a twice-daily in-season baseball notes column. Heyman came to Sports Illustrated in July 2006 after 16 years at Newsday, where he developed a reputation for breaking major baseball stories while serving as a Yankees beat writer and both a baseball and general sports columnist.
Brian Kenny
Brian Kenny is a host appearing across MLB Network's studio programming, including as the host of the analytics-focused panel program MLB Now and as a host of MLB Network's special event coverage and the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show, MLB Tonight. He also appears on the offseason countdown series Top 10 Right Now. Kenny is the author of Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution (Simon & Schuster, 2016).
On MLB Now, Kenny hosts a one-hour live daily panel discussion that covers breaking news and the latest trends in the game with perspectives from baseball journalists, sabermetricians, broadcasters and current and former players and managers.
Kenny joined MLB Network from ESPN, where he was anchor of the 6 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, host of the Brian Kenny Show on ESPN Radio and Friday Night Fights on ESPN2. He previously served as an ESPN anchor for Baseball Tonight, receiving a Sports Emmy Award in 2003. Kenny called play-by-play for ESPN's Wednesday Night Baseball and the World Baseball Classic, and hosted ESPN's coverage of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Kenny was named "Media Personality of the Year" by SI.com in 2004, and in 2005 he was the recipient of the Sam Taub Award, given by the Boxing Writers Association of America to the Boxing Broadcaster of the Year. Kenny appeared as himself in the 2006 film "Rocky Balboa," in the 2007 film "Resurrecting the Champ" and in the IFC series "Brockmire" in 2017.
Prior to joining ESPN, Kenny was Sports Director at WTZA-TV in Kingston, New York, for 11 years (1986-1997). While at WTZA, he won 11 New York State Broadcasters Association Awards and five Associated Press Awards for Journalistic Excellence. From 1985-86, he was a news reporter, then sports anchor at WLIG-TV in Riverhead, New York.
Kenny attended St. John's University and the New York Institute of Technology. He graduated magna cum laude from New York Tech in 1985. He and his wife Nicole have five children.
Abby Labar
Abby Labar is an MLB Network studio host appearing across multiple programs, including the nightly highlights show of record, Quick Pitch.
In addition to her role at MLB Network, Labar serves as a studio Host for NHL Network where she hosts On the Fly.
Labar previously was the host and Rinkside Reporter for the Carolina Hurricanes, following contributing to Ball Sports South’s broadcasts as the fill-in Host and Rinkside Reporter. Before joining Bally and the Hurricanes, Labar began her career with FOX Sports South as part of a rotation on ACC Football, was a Digital Media Reporter for Pack Pride, a Jim Connors Memorial Intern for the Coastal Plain League, weekly host of Monday Minute, digital media reporter for the N.C. State Men’s Basketball Team, Field Reporter for a collegiate summer wooden bat team, work for Wolfpack Sports TV and communications and marketing internship with the N.C. State Athletics Department.
Labar graduated with a BA in Communication Media Studies and minors in Business Administration and Journalism from NC State.
Al Leiter
Al Leiter, a 19-year Major League veteran and two-time World Series champion, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight, MLB Network's special event coverage and the Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days.
Leiter, who was part of MLB Network's original on-air talent roster, earned Sports Emmy Award nominations in the Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Analyst category in 2016, 2014, 2012 and 2010 for his work on MLB Network.
Leiter also serves as a color commentator for YES Network and previously worked as a Postseason game analyst for ESPN and FOX Sports.
Leiter was drafted by the New York Yankees and debuted with the club in 1987. He went on to pitch for the Toronto Blue Jays (1989-1995), Florida Marlins (1996-1997 and 2005) and New York Mets (1998-2004) before retiring as a Yankee in 2005 with a 162-132 record and 3.80 ERA. Leiter won World Series rings with the Blue Jays (1993) and Marlins (1997) and was an NL All-Star in 1996 and 2000. Leiter threw the first no-hitter in Marlins franchise history on May 11, 1996, against the Colorado Rockies, and he was the first pitcher to earn a victory against all 30 Major League teams. Leiter joined the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2023.
Leiter received the Roberto Clemente Award in 2000 for his community service and philanthropic efforts.
Mike Lowell
Mike Lowell, a two-time World Series champion, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight?and MLB Network's special event coverage throughout the year.
Lowell, who joined MLB Network in 2011, is a four-time All-Star and 2005 Gold Glove Award winner. Lowell batted .279 with 223 home runs and 952 RBI in his 13-year playing career. Lowell played for the New York Yankees (1998), Florida Marlins (1999-2005) and Boston Red Sox (2006-2010).?He is the recipient of the 2006 MLB.com Defensive Player of the Year Award and the 2006 Jackie Jensen Spirit Award.
As the 2007 World Series MVP, Lowell was a key member of Boston's second World Series championship in four years, batting .400 with four RBI and six runs scored during the series.
Lowell was also part of the 2003 World Series champion Marlins, hitting 32 home runs and recording 105 RBI during the season to win the NL Silver Slugger Award at third base.
Lowell's autobiography, Deep Drive: A Long Journey to Finding the Champion Within, was published in 2008, detailing his recovery from cancer and rise to World Series champion.
Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martinez, a 2015 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, is a studio analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight?and MLB Network's special event coverage throughout the year.
During his illustrious 18-year career, Martinez recorded a 2.93 ERA, won three Cy Young Awards and was a 2004 World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, and in 2018 he was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame for his tenure with the Montreal Expos.
An eight-time All-Star, Martinez posted a 219-100 career record. He is the only pitcher in history to lead the Major Leagues in ERA in five different seasons. Martinez's .687 winning percentage trails only Hall of Famer Whitey Ford's .690 winning percentage among modern-era pitchers with at least 150 victories.
Known as a power pitcher, Martinez captured the 1999 All-Star Game MVP Award at Fenway Park, when he struck out five batters in two scoreless innings, including Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell. Martinez's 3,154 strikeouts rank 13th all-time, and his career WHIP of 1.054 is the best of any modern-era starter.
Martinez began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-1993) before joining the Montreal Expos (1994-1997), Red Sox (1998-2004), New York Mets (2005-2008) and Philadelphia Phillies (2009).
Martinez's work with MLB Network is in addition to his role as a Postseason analyst with Turner Sports, which began in 2013.
Kevin Millar
Kevin Millar, a 12-year Major League first baseman and outfielder, co-hosts MLB Network’s Intentional Talk weekdays at 5 p.m. ET alongside Ryan Dempster and Siera Santos.
As MLB Network’s longest-running talk show, Intentional Talk provides a distinctive spin on baseball with a blend of thorough analysis, revealing and entertaining interviews, and an inside look at the humorous side of the game.
Millar, who joined MLB Network in April of 2010, initially served as a guest analyst during MLB Network's 2009 Postseason coverage.
Millar batted .274 with 170 home runs and 699 RBI in his 12-year playing career, which began with the Florida Marlins in 1998. Following his time with Florida, Millar played for the Boston Red Sox (2003-2005), Baltimore Orioles (2006-2008) and Toronto Blue Jays (2009). Millar was a key contributor to Boston's 2004 World Series championship, the first title for the club in 86 years.
Millar previously contributed to NESN's Red Sox coverage and FOX's baseball coverage following his retirement.
Known for his outgoing personality, Millar received the Jackie Jensen Award after the 2003 season, presented annually by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America to the player who best embodies the spirit and desire of the former Red Sox outfielder. Following the 2001 season, Millar was presented with the Charlie Hough Good Guy Award from the Florida chapter of the BBWAA.
Millar went undrafted out of college and was signed by Marlins scout Gary Hughes after playing one season in the independent Northern League with the St. Paul Saints.
Millar grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from University (California) High School. Millar then went on to study business at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Millar and his wife, Jeana, live with their four children in Austin, Texas.
Jon Morosi
Jon Morosi is an insider appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight. Morosi contributes to the regular season morning show MLB Central and the offseason morning show Hot Stove, in addition to MLB Network's coverage of the Trade Deadline and Postseason. Morosi contributes to the MLB Network Showcase game telecast package as an on-field reporter.
Morosi also has been an NHL Network reporter since 2016, with a focus on feature reporting for the network’s coverage of the IIHF World Junior Championships and BioSteel All-American Game. He writes for MLB.com and contributes to SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio, FOX Sports Radio and Sportsnet Radio THE FAN in Toronto.
Prior to joining MLB Network, Morosi was a national baseball columnist and on-air reporter for FOX Sports. Morosi covered the Tigers for the Detroit Free Press from 2006 to 2009 and Mariners for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 2005.
A Marquette, Mich., native, Morosi graduated with honors from Harvard University with a degree in environmental science and public policy. While attending Harvard, Morosi played on the junior varsity baseball team for four seasons while covering the men's hockey team for the school's newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, for three seasons. Morosi also served as a hockey play-by-play broadcaster for the campus radio station, WHRB.
Morosi is a member of the Essexville-Hampton Public Schools Hall of Fame in Essexville, Mich., where he led the Garber Dukes to a 2-16 record over two seasons as the varsity quarterback. He was named Executive of the Year by the Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) in 2018 and serves as an Advisory Director for the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
Kelly Nash
Kelly Nash is an MLB Network studio host appearing across multiple programs, including the nightly highlights show of record, Quick Pitch.
In addition to her role at MLB Network, Nash serves as a studio host for NHL Network where she hosts On the Fly.
Nash previously was a sideline reporter for FOX Sports Florida, covering the Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Lightning. Before joining FOX Sports Florida, Nash began her career with the ACC Digital Network as a production assistant and host.
Nash graduated with a Master's in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson University and a Master's in TV Broadcast Journalism from the University of Miami.
Melanie Newman
Melanie Newman is a play-by-play announcer for “Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV+ and a MLB Network studio host. With her role on “Friday Night Baseball,” Newman is the second woman to lead play-by-play duties for a national broadcast team, after Suzyn Waldman held that role for The Baseball Network in 1994 and 1995.
Newman contributed to MLB Network in 2021, when she called the MLB Network Showcase telecast featuring the Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox that August. Newman also served as the play-by-play broadcaster for the first-ever, all-female MLB broadcast when the Orioles visited the Tampa Bay Rays in the MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube in August 2021, which MLB Network produced.
Newman, who joined the Orioles’ broadcast team in 2020, became the first woman in franchise history to do play-by-play for a game, when she called the Miami Marlins at Orioles on Aug. 4, 2020, on the Orioles Radio Network. At the time, Newman joined Suzyn Waldman, Jenny Cavnar and Gayle Gardner as women who have handled play-by-play duties in MLB. Since 2020, Newman has served a variety of roles for the Orioles broadcast team, including hosting pre- and postgame coverage, plus in-game reporter duties. In September 2021, Newman also was part of the first-ever all-female broadcast team for an ESPN baseball broadcast when the Los Angeles Dodgers matched up against the San Diego Padres.
Prior to joining the MLB Network and the Orioles broadcast teams, Newman was a broadcaster for the Frisco RoughRiders of the Texas Rangers’ organization in 2018, followed by time with the Salem Red Sox of the Boston Red Sox organization in 2019. Newman’s career began at Troy University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism, Leadership and Sports Information, and served as the play-by-play voice of the Troy University women’s volleyball, softball and baseball teams on TrojanVision TV (2010-13). Following her time at Troy, Newman then moved to the Atlantic Sun Conference (2012-14), providing sideline duties, before joining the Texas Collegiate League as a broadcaster and on-field emcee (2014). Newman later acted as the pre-game host, away game co-broadcaster and on-field host for the Mobile BayBears of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization (2014-15). She has also contributed to the GameDay Radio Network, Big South Conference, Liberty Flames Sports Network on ESPN+ and other sports telecasts on the ACC Network.
Newman will continue her broadcast work covering the Orioles for MASN and the Orioles Radio Network.
Dan O'Dowd
Dan O'Dowd, the longtime Colorado Rockies general manager, is a studio analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight. O'Dowd joined MLB Network in February 2015 after serving as a guest analyst during MLB Network's 2014 Winter Meetings coverage in San Diego.
In 15 seasons as the Rockies' general manager and executive vice president, O'Dowd guided Colorado to a World Series appearance in 2007 and a Postseason appearance in 2009. O'Dowd joined the Rockies' Baseball Operations department in 1999, and in 2010 he was named the club's chief baseball officer in addition to his role as general manager and executive vice president.
Prior to joining the Rockies, O'Dowd was the vice president of baseball operations and assistant general manager for the Cleveland Indians, where he first joined as director of player development in 1988 and spent 11 years in the club's front office.
O'Dowd, who is a graduate of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, began his baseball career in 1983 with the Baltimore Orioles organization, where he worked in the player development, broadcasting and marketing departments for five seasons.
Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy, a two-time World Series Champion and 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network’s programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
Peavy began his career with the San Diego Padres (2002-09), before joining the Chicago White Sox (2009-13), Boston Red Sox (2013-14) and San Francisco Giants (2014-16). Peavy – who led the National League in ERA with 2.27 in 2004 and 2.54 in 2007 – was an All-Star in 2005, 2007 and 2012. For his Cy Young season in 2007, Peavy posted an NL-best wins (19), strikeouts (240) and FIP (2.84). Peavy appeared in four Postseasons and won back-to-back World Series as a member of the 2013 Red Sox and 2014 Giants.
Drafted by the Padres in Round 15 of the 1999 MLB Amateur Draft, Peavy went on to collect a 152-126 record, 3.63 career ERA, 2377.0 innings pitched, 2,207 strikeouts, 110 ERA+, 15 complete games and six shutouts over 388 regular season games.
Peavy is the founder of The Peavy Family Foundation, which strives to support sports, music, the arts and financial literacy programs for young people.
Carlos Pe?a
Carlos Pe?a, a 14-year Major League veteran and 2009 American League All-Star, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight, the Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days and MLB Network's special event coverage throughout the year. Pe?a initially served as a guest analyst on MLB Network during the 2009 and 2014 Postseasons and joined MLB Network in December 2014.
Pe?a, a 2008 Gold Glove Award winner, hit 286 home runs and recorded 818 RBI in his career. Pe?a hit more than 25 home runs in six different seasons, including 46 in 2007 when he won the Silver Slugger Award for American League first basemen as well as the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
As a member of the 2008 AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays, Pe?a finished the season tied for the most home runs in the AL with 39.
A first baseman and designated hitter, Pe?a played his final season with the Texas Rangers, with whom he debuted in 2001. He also spent time with the Oakland Athletics (2002), Detroit Tigers (2002-2005), Boston Red Sox (2006), Tampa Bay Rays (2007-2010 and 2012), Chicago Cubs (2011), Houston Astros (2013) and Kansas City Royals (2013).
Dan Plesac
Dan Plesac, a three-time American League All-Star and 18-year Major League veteran, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show?MLB Tonight, the Spring Training special?30 Clubs in 30 Days and MLB Network's special event coverage. Plesac has been part of MLB Network's on-air roster since its launch in 2009. ? ?
Plesac, who holds a 3.64 lifetime ERA with 158 career saves, played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1986-1992), Chicago Cubs (1993-1994), Pittsburgh Pirates (1995-1996), Toronto Blue Jays (1997-1999 and 2001-2002), Arizona Diamondbacks (1999-2000) and Philadelphia Phillies (2002-2003). Plesac's 1,064 games pitched rank sixth in baseball history, and he remains Milwaukee's all-time leader in games pitched (365), saves (133) and ERA (3.21; minimum 500 IP). Plesac was a member of the 1999 NL West champion D-backs and was the last Phillies pitcher to pitch at Veterans Stadium in 2003.
Before joining MLB Network, Plesac was a studio analyst for Comcast Sportsnet's Chicago Cubs Pre- and Postgame Live and a contributor to Chicago Tribune Live.
Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols, a 22-year Major League veteran and 11-time MLB All-Star, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network’s programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight. Pujols is also a Special Assistant to the Commissioner, consulting with MLB on a range of topics, including player relations and issues regarding the Dominican Republic, his home country.
During his playing career, Pujols collected 3382 hits, 2218 RBI, 1914 runs, 703 home runs and 686 doubles in 3080 Major League games. Pujols, also known as “The Machine,” is ninth on the all-time hits list with his 3384 career hits which came during 12 prolific seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, 10 years with the Los Angeles Angels and one season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2022, the two-time World Series champion ended his career fourth in MLB history with 703 home runs, the most all-time by a player who was born outside of the United States.
Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th Round of the 1999 MLB Amateur Draft, Pujols would go on to spend 12 seasons with Cardinals (2001-11 and 2022) before joining the Los Angeles Angels for 10 years (2012-21) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), winning three National League Most Valuable Player Awards along the way (2005, 2008 and 2009).
Pujols played for the Dominican Republic’s national team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 before being the 2008 recipient of MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award for excellence on and off the field, and ESPN’s Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in 2022 for his charitable work, notably through the Pujols Family Foundation.
Anthony Recker
Anthony Recker, a seven-year Major League veteran, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
During his playing career, Recker compiled 110 hits with 70 RBI, 28 doubles and 18 home runs in 206 Major League games. Recker began his career with the Oakland Athletics (2011-12), before joining the Chicago Cubs (2012), New York Mets (2013-15) and Atlanta Braves (2016-17). Drafted by the Athletics in Round 18 of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft, Recker spent his career as a catcher. Prior to joining MLB Network, Recker served as an analyst on SportsNet New York from 2018 through 2022.
Harold Reynolds
Harold Reynolds, a two-time American League All-Star and 12-year MLB veteran, is a three-time Sports Emmy Award-winning analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming. Reynolds appears on the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight and MLB Network's special event coverage throughout the year. During the offseason, Reynolds and Matt Vasgersian co-host the weekday morning show Hot Stove.
Reynolds, who is part of MLB Network's original on-air talent roster at its launch in 2009, is a three-time Sports Emmy Award winner in the Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Analyst category for his work on MLB Network.
Previously, Reynolds was a studio analyst for TBS' regular season and Postseason baseball coverage in 2008. Reynolds was also a studio analyst for New York Mets pre- and postgame coverage on SportsNet New York (SNY) in 2008. Prior to contributing to TBS and SNY, Reynolds was part of MLB.com's baseball coverage in 2007. Reynolds began his broadcast career at ESPN in 1996.
Reynolds began his professional career with the Seattle Mariners in 1983 and spent 10 of his 12 Major League seasons with the club, making two All-Star teams (1987 and 1988) and winning three Gold Glove awards (1988-1990).
Reynolds, who compiled 250 stolen bases during his career, would finish his career with the Baltimore Orioles (1993) and California Angels (1994). Reynolds led the American League with 60 stolen bases in 1987 and is among the Mariners' top-10 career leaders in games played (4,593), at-bats (4,090), runs (543), hits (1,063), triples (48) and stolen bases (228).
In 1991, Reynolds received the Roberto Clemente Award for his community service and philanthropic efforts.
Bill Ripken
Bill Ripken, a 12-year major league veteran, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight and the kids-focused weekly interview and demonstration show Play Ball during the regular season.
Ripken earned the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Studio Analyst in 2016 for his work on MLB Network. Ripken has been nominated in the category three times since joining MLB Network in 2009.
Ripken began his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1987, under the direction of his father, Cal Ripken, Sr., and alongside his brother Cal Ripken, Jr. This was the first and remains the only time in Major League Baseball history that a father simultaneously managed two of his sons. After playing for Baltimore through 1992 and again in 1996, Ripken played for the Texas Rangers (1993-1994 and 1997), Cleveland Indians (1995) and Detroit Tigers (1998). In 1988, Ripken was second among American League second basemen in double plays turned with 110 and his .9927 fielding percentage in 1992 was the best of any Major League second baseman that season. Ripken led the Orioles in hitting with a .291 average and was tied for first on the team with 28 doubles in 1990.
In the spring of 2002, Ripken was honored for his achievements in MLB with an induction into the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame.
After his playing career, Bill joined his brother in the formation of Ripken Baseball, a sales and marketing company that handles all business interests of the Ripken's, is a parent company to divisions that work to grow baseball at the youth and professional levels. Ripken Professional Baseball owns and operates three minor league teams: the Aberdeen (Maryland) IronBirds (www.IronBirdsBaseball.com), the Class A affiliate of the Orioles; the Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants; and the Charlotte (Florida) Stone Crabs (www.StoneCrabsBaseball.com), the Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 2001 Bill and Cal Ripken established The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, in memory of the family's patriarch. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, working throughout the country with Boys & Girls Clubs, P.A.L. centers, inner-city schools, and other youth serving organizations supporting programs in America's most distressed communities.
Bill is also a best-selling author and sought after public speaker. In 2005, he and his brother co-authored Play Baseball The Ripken Way: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Fundamentals.
Ryan Rowland-Smith
Ryan Rowland-Smith, a five-year MLB pitcher, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
During his playing career, Rowland-Smith compiled a 12 wins and two saves across 121 career games. Rowland-Smith began his career with the Seattle Mariners (2007-10) before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks (2014). Signed as an international player out of Sydney, Australia, Rowland-Smith spent his career as a pitcher.
In addition to MLB Network, Rowland-Smith is an analyst for the Seattle Mariners on Root Sports, plus he hosts ‘The Top Step w/ Ryan Rowland-Smith,’ a weekly digital show on the Mariners.
Christopher Russo
Renowned sports talk personality Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo joined MLB Network in 2014 to host his first TV-based baseball talk show, High Heat with Christopher Russo.?
Launched Opening Day 2014, High Heat with Christopher Russo features Russo's signature energetic delivery and passionate opinions on all 30 Major League Baseball clubs, plus interviews with players, club personnel, baseball writers and broadcasters.
In addition to his work at MLB Network, Russo headlines SiriusXM's all-sports talk channel, Mad Dog Sports Radio, and hosts its anchor program, Mad Dog Unleashed, live every weekday afternoon from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET. Russo also serves as SiriusXM's "baseball ambassador," hosting shows and specials and appearing regularly on the channel to comment on MLB news and issues. Russo joined SiriusXM Radio in 2008.
Known for having helped popularize the sports talk radio format across the country, Russo is a fan favorite for his feisty, unflinchingly candid approach to talking sports, and the unrestrained, rapid-fire delivery earned him the nickname "Mad Dog." Russo joined SiriusXM after nearly 20 years in New York hosting the popular Mike and the Mad Dog show.?
Russo is the author of two books - The Mad Dog 100: The Greatest Sports Arguments of All Time and, most recently, The Mad Dog Hall of Fame: The Ultimate Top-Ten Rankings of The Best In Sports.
Siera Santos
Siera Santos is an MLB Network studio host appearing across multiple programs, including “Intentional Talk” alongside Ryan Dempster and Kevin Millar, and the nightly highlights show of record, Quick Pitch.
Santos was previously a sports anchor and reporter for FOX 10 in Phoenix, Ariz. Prior to her time in Phoenix, Santos was a sports anchor for FOX 32 in Chicago (2018-20), and hosted NBC Sports Chicago’s Fast Break and In The Loop programs from 2015-18. As a member of NBC Sports Chicago, Santos served as the beat reporter for the Chicago White Sox, appearing on pregame, in-game and postgame during White Sox broadcasts.
Santos’ career began with Colorado Springs’ KOAA TV (2012-13), followed by Oklahoma City’s KWTV (2013-14), and Los Angeles’ KCBS (2014-15). In Los Angeles, Santos hosted the nightly sports show Sports Central on KCAL9, as well as pre-game and post-game reports for the all the local teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels.
Santos, who is a Phoenix native, graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and minor in Spanish.
Xavier Scruggs
Xavier Scruggs, a Major League veteran, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network’s programming, including as a panelist on Off Base, the regular season afternoon program which features unique perspectives on the hottest topics originating from a reimagined set inside Studio 21.
During his playing career, Scruggs played three seasons in MLB, beginning with the St. Louis Cardinals for 2014 and 2015, before finishing with the Miami Marlins in 2016. He compiled 27 hits, 14 RBIs, six doubles, six runs scored and a home run in 50 Major League games. Following his time in MLB, Scruggs also played abroad in Mexico and Korea. Drafted by the Cardinals in Round 19 of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Nevada, Scruggs had previously been drafted by the Seattle Mariners in Round 50 of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft out of high school. In April 2021, Scruggs rejoined the Cardinals as a Diversity & Inclusion consultant in the baseball operations department.
In addition to MLB Network, Scruggs contributes to Apple TV+’s Friday Night Baseball along with SiriusXM and ESPN’s baseball coverage.
Lauren Shehadi
Lauren Shehadi is a host and reporter appearing across MLB Network's studio programming. During the regular season, Shehadi co-hosts MLB Network's weekday morning show MLB Central alongside Mark DeRosa and Robert Flores. MLB Central features extensive on-field highlights, context on the latest news and interviews with guests, celebrities and insiders from around the league. She also appears on MLB Network's special event coverage throughout the year.
Shehadi also serves as a regular contributor to Hot Stove, MLB Network's weekday morning show during the offseason. During the MLB Postseason, Shehadi has served as a field reporter for TBS.
Shehadi previously served as an anchor and reporter for CBSSports.com and CBS Sports Network. Shehadi hosted the ALT Games, The SEC Tailgate Show and Fantasy Football Today. She was a contributor to the 2011 College World Series Home Run Derby in Omaha on CBS.
Before joining CBS, Shehadi worked as a weekend sports anchor at KXMC-TV in Minot, N.D. Shehadi also worked as a producer at SNN in Sarasota, Fla., and behind the scenes at Comcast Sportsnet Washington.
A native of McLean, Va., Shehadi graduated from the University of Florida, where she was a host of Gatorzone, an internet sports web show.
Joel Sherman
Joel Sherman is an insider appearing across MLB Network's programming. Throughout the year, Sherman contributes to the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight, MLB Now, MLB Network's Trade Deadline and National Baseball Hall of Fame coverage, and the offseason weekday morning show Hot Stove.
In addition to his role with MLB Network, Sherman is a national baseball columnist for the New York Post. Sherman began working at United Press International in 1984, a year before he graduated from New York University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.
Sherman joined the New York Post in February 1989, serving as the beat writer for the Yankees from 1989 to 1995 and as the baseball columnist ever since.
Besides his regular column in the Post, Sherman has served as a baseball contributor to SI.com, MSG Network's SportsDesk, New York 1's Sports on One, MSNBC's The Last Word, ESPN New York and the YES Network.
Sherman has written freelance articles for many publications, including ESPN the Magazine, Sports Illustrated for Kids and New York magazine. Sherman's book, Birth of a Dynasty: Behind the Pinstripes with the 1996 Yankees, was published in 2006 and told the detailed story of how the Yankees' dynasty in the 1990s was constructed.
Sherman was chairman of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America from 1997 to 1998 after serving as vice chairman the previous two years. Sherman has served on several national committees for the BBWAA, including the one that created the ballot for the redesigned voting structure for the National Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee. Sherman has been a Hall of Fame voter since 1998. Sherman is a recipient of the Dick Young Award for excellence in baseball reporting given annually by the New York area scouts.
Buck Showalter
Buck Showalter, a four-time Manager of the Year Award winner, is a studio analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight. Showalter originally joined MLB Network from August 2020 through the 2021 season before rejoining in April 2024.
Showalter most recently won the Manager of the Year Award with the New York Mets in 2022, becoming the only manager to win the award with four different franchises: New York Yankees (1994), Texas Rangers (2004), Baltimore Orioles (2014) and Mets (2022). Showalter turned the Mets from a 77-win team in 2021, to a 101-win club in 2022, marking the second-best record in Mets franchise history. Showalter compiled 1,727 wins in his 22 seasons as an MLB manager, including nine with the Orioles (2010-18), four with Rangers (2003-06), three with the Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-2000) four with the Yankees (1992-95) and two with the Mets (2022-23).
Showalter’s 1,727 career wins rank 19th all-time in MLB history, and his 669 wins with Baltimore rank second all-time behind Hall of Famer Earl Weaver (1,480). For the first time since 1997, Showalter guided the 2012 Orioles to their first of three Postseason appearances, leading Baltimore to a 93-69 record. Following the 2012 Postseason appearance, Showalter led the Orioles to the American League Championship Series in 2014 before being named the AL Manager of the Year for the third time (2004 with the Rangers and 1994 with the Yankees). As the first manager in Diamondbacks history, Showalter’s 1999 team made the Postseason for the first time, and his 1995 Yankees played in the Postseason for the first time in 14 years.
Drafted in the fifth round of 1977 MLB Draft by the Yankees, Showalter would go on to spend 19 years in the organization, including three different managerial positions in the Minor Leagues, before joining the Major League coaching staff in 1990.
Jayson Stark
Jayson Stark is a Hall of Fame award-winning writer and insider appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight, MLB Now and MLB Central.
Stark, who joined MLB Network in 2018, is the 2019 winner of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award for "meritorious contributions to baseball writing" and will be presented with the award in Cooperstown, N.Y., during the Hall of Fame's annual Induction Weekend. In addition to his work at MLB Network, he is also a senior baseball writer at The Athletic and the host of "Baseball Stories" on Stadium TV.
In his profile on the Hall of Fame's website following the BBWAA Career Excellence Award announcement, Stark was described as "a curator for all things weird, wacky, unique, statistically inclined and historically rare in the game." His popular "Useless Information" column at The Athletic is a regular collection of notes, quotes, numbers, oddities and laughs. And in his previous stops at ESPN.com and the Philadelphia Inquirer, he was the creator and author of the nationally syndicated "Baseball Week in Review" column, which looked at the sport in a similar irreverent vein.
Before arriving at MLB Network and The Athletic, Stark spent 17 years covering baseball for ESPN and ESPN.com. Besides writing columns for the website, he made numerous television appearances on Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter and Outside the Lines, and won an Emmy for his work on Baseball Tonight. He was also a regular guest on the Mike and Mike show, where he contributed his famous weekly trivia question.
Stark previously spent 21 years covering baseball for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was twice named Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year. He appears regularly on radio stations around the country and formerly hosted "The Jayson Stark Show" on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia.
He is the author of three books, "Wild Pitches: Rumblings, Grumblings and Reflections on the Game I Love" (Triumph Books, 2014), "The Stark Truth: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players in Baseball History" (Triumph Books, 2006) and "Worth The Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies" (Triumph Books, 2009).
Stark was a finalist for the 2019 National Sports Media Association's National Sportswriter of the Year Award. In May 2017, Stark was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He was honored in 2010 by Penn State's Foster Conference for Distinguished Writers, for his books and other work. Stark also appeared in the 2014 film, "Million Dollar Arm," starring Jon Hamm. And in 2018, Topps issued an actual Jayson Stark baseball card.
Matt Vasgersian
Veteran sports broadcaster Matt Vasgersian is a host appearing across MLB Network's studio programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight. In his role at MLB Network since its launch in 2009, Vasgersian also serves as a play-by-play announcer for MLB Network Showcase game telecasts and hosts the new regular-season daily program airing weekdays at 5 p.m. ET, Pregame Spread. The action-packed show will combine Vasgersian’s irreverent broadcasting style and longstanding love of the game with entertaining and insightful baseball content.
During the offseason, Vasgersian co-hosts MLB Network's weekday morning show Hot Stove with Harold Reynolds, and he regularly serves as a host across MLB Network's special event coverage and feature programming throughout the year.
In addition to his roles on MLB Network, Vasgersian serves as the play-by-play voice for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball game telecasts and the Los Angeles Angels. Vasgersian has also called play-by-play for MLB on FOX, and since 2005 he has been the voice of Sony PlayStation's MLB The Show.
Prior to joining MLB Network, Vasgersian was the San Diego Padres' lead play-by-play announcer for seven years. Vasgersian previously manned the Milwaukee Brewers' broadcast booth for five seasons after spending six years as an announcer in the Minor Leagues.
Vasgersian has also had a longstanding national role with the NBC Sports Olympic broadcast team, most recently handling play-by-play duties in freestyle skiing during the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.
Tom Verducci
Tom Verducci is an Emmy Award-winning insider and analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
Verducci, who joined MLB Network in 2009, was honored with a Sports Emmy Award in the Outstanding Sports Personality - Sports Reporter category for his work on MLB Network and TBS in 2013, 2018 and 2020. Verducci earned his second Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Analyst in 2014, marking the first time a non-former college or pro athlete won in the category, and the first time for a previous Outstanding Sports Reporter award winner also won for Outstanding Studio Analyst.
A renowned baseball writer, Verducci also serves as a senior baseball writer for Sports Illustrated and contributes analysis to SI.com. Additionally, Verducci is an analyst for FOX's MLB coverage throughout the year. Verducci was in the broadcast booth alongside analyst Harold Reynolds and play-by-play announcer Joe Buck for FOX's presentation of the All-Star Game and World Series in 2014 and 2015.
In 2009, Verducci co-authored Joe Torre's The Yankee Years, chronicling Torre's years as Yankees manager from 1996 to 2007. Verducci became the first SI writer to both write a cover story and serve as its subject. Verducci's story, I Was a Toronto Blue Jay recounted his experiences playing for the Blue Jays over five Spring Training days. Verducci's cover story for SI's 2004 Sportsman of the Year (the Boston Red Sox) was included in The Best American Sports Writing 2005 anthology.
Another compelling and personal story Verducci has written for SI is his 1995 cover story The Dead End Kids, in which he profiled Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. Verducci's 1999 cover story about Sandy Koufax, The Left Arm of God, was another classic, in which he wrote that the pitching legend should not be referred to as a recluse, as "a recluse doesn't touch so many people with lifelong lessons of generosity, humility and the Zen of the curveball."
Verducci has written multiple books, including Chasing the Dream; My Lifelong Journey to the World Series, Joe Torre's path from growing up in Brooklyn to leading the Yankees to the 1996 World Series, and Inside Baseball: The Best of Tom Verducci, featuring 21 of the author's most gripping SI essays.
Before joining SI, Verducci spent 10 years with Newsday as a baseball writer, including a three-year stint as the paper's national baseball columnist. He also spent a year in Cocoa, Fla., as a sports reporter for Florida Today.
Verducci led his high school football team to a state championship and caught the winning touchdown pass in the title game. Verducci attended Penn State University, where he graduated in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and was named the Most Outstanding Journalism Graduate in that class. As a volunteer for the Montgomery Baseball Association youth program, Verducci managed the 10-year old travel team to the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Region championship and the Cal Ripken Baseball World Series.
Adnan Virk
Adnan Virk is a studio host appearing across MLB Network's programming. Launched Opening Day 2023, Virk and Harold Reynolds now co-host a new-look edition of the Emmy Award-winning MLB Tonight weekdays at 6 p.m. ET.
Prior to joining MLB Network in March 2019, Virk worked at ESPN as a studio host for Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter and Outside the Lines. Virk also spent seven years with The Score in Canada, where he hosted several programs for the 24-hour sports network. Virk began his career at TSN in 1998 as a producer.
Prior to joining TSN, Virk studied radio and television arts at Ryerson University in Toronto.
Adam Wainwright
Adam Wainwright, a World Series Champion and three-time All-Star pitcher, is a studio analyst appearing across MLB Network's programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight. Wainwright joined MLB Network on Opening Day 2024.
Wainwright, who retired from the game at the end of the 2023 season, has also worked as a game analyst for FOX’s MLB regular season coverage since retiring.
Wainwright’s career began with being drafted in the first round, 29th overall, of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Atlanta Braves before joining the Cardinals for the entirety of his 18-season MLB career (2005-23). Wainwright – who led the National League in wins, games starts and innings pitched in 2009 (19, 34 and 233.0) and 2013 (19, 34, 241.2) – was an MLB All-Star in 2010, 2013 and 2014. A 2006 World Series champion and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, the right-handed pitcher went on to record 200 career wins alongside a 3.53 career ERA and 2,202 strikeouts in 2,668.1 innings pitched. As a member of the Cardinals, Wainwright ranks only second to the late Hall of Famer Bob Gibson (3117) in career strikeouts in team history.
Before his retirement in October 2023 and after being nominated four different times, Wainwright was the 2020 Robert Clemente Award winner, bestowed annually to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. Wainwright is the founder and president of Big League Impact, a community of professional baseball players working to raise money for causes they care about, and released his first full studio album, including songs “Time To Fly,” “Hey Y’all” and “A Song Will Bring You Back” in February 2024.
Since joining MLB Network, Wainwright has appeared on its Opening Day coverage in March 2024, MLB at Rickwood Field between the Cardinals and San Francisco Giants in June, and MLB All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas in July.
Matt Yallof
Matt Yallof is a host and reporter appearing across MLB Network's programming, including studio shows, updates and breaking news coverage. He is the regular host of MLB.TV’s Big Inning program.
Prior to joining MLB Network, Yallof served as the primary studio host for the Emmy-nominated New York Mets pre- and postgame coverage on SportsNet New York (SNY). From 2000 until 2006, Yallof worked at Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, winning four Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for his work as an anchor and a reporter. His duties included hosting the Philadelphia Phillies postgame show, working as the in-game reporter for the Philadelphia Flyers and co-anchoring Sportsnite, the primetime local and national sports news report.
Prior to joining Comcast SportsNet, Yallof worked as a sports anchor and reporter at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, N.Y., covering the Bisons, Bills and Sabres, including the Bills' "Music City Miracle" loss and Sabres' 1999 Stanley Cup Final run.
From 1993 to 1998, Yallof worked at CNN, CNN Sports and CNNSI. After transitioning from news to sports, he anchored Headline Sports and spent time in CNN's international sports division. Upon graduating from Muhlenberg College in 1990, Yallof worked behind-the-scenes at CNBC.
In addition to his role at MLB Network, Yallof is an active supporter of the National Stroke Association, working to spread awareness, counsel stroke patients and raise funds for care.
Chris Young
Chris Young, a 13-year Major League veteran and 2010 MLB All-Star, is an analyst appearing across MLB Network’s programming, including the Emmy Award-winning flagship studio show MLB Tonight.
During his playing career, Young amassed 1,109 hits, 668 runs scored, 590 RBI, 288 doubles, 191 home runs and 142 stolen bases in 1,465 Major League games. Young began his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2006-12), before joining the Oakland Athletics (2013), New York Mets (2014), New York Yankees (2014-15), Boston Red Sox (2016-17) and Los Angeles Angels (2018). Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in Round 16 of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft, Young became the first rookie to hit 30 home runs and have 25 stolen bases in Major League history during the 2007 season.
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