Jason Benetti Steps into the Spotlight as NBC's Lead Voice for Sunday Night Baseball
When Sam Flood learned in November that NBC would be returning to baseball broadcasting, he immediately identified his preferred play-by-play voice and the innovative format for the coverage. Viewers will experience this new approach firsthand on Thursday during NBC's Opening Day doubleheader.
Benetti's Debut and Background
The prime-time game between the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks will serve as Jason Benetti's debut as NBC's lead baseball announcer. Benetti will helm Sunday Night Baseball, which transitions to NBC and Peacock after 26 seasons on ESPN. He previously handled play-by-play for the MLB Sunday Leadoff package on Peacock in 2022 and called baseball for NBC during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Benetti expressed his gratitude, stating, "Sam and I always joked after 2022—and he was serious, and it turned out I was, too—that if NBC ever got baseball back in this sort of state, I would be on his call list. I firmly appreciate that." Benetti had been with Fox Sports since 2022, covering baseball, NFL, college football, and college basketball, but Fox released him from his contract early for this opportunity.
Format and Analysts
The format for Sunday Night Baseball will mirror that of Sunday Leadoff, with Benetti joined in the booth by analysts from both teams. For the opening game, former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser and Diamondbacks slugger Luis Gonzalez, who led his franchise to a World Series title in 2001, will provide insights. The first Sunday Night Baseball game between the Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners will feature Rick Manning and Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Benetti likened the experience to a dinner table conversation, saying, "At some point, somebody will ask what three people you'd want to have at a dinner table to talk baseball. I get to do that every week with two separate people who may not have had a baseball conversation before. That brings me joy and curiosity, and we think fans will enjoy it too."
Historical Context and Innovations
This format harkens back to NBC's World Series coverage from 1947 through 1976, when the network used play-by-play announcers or analysts for the Fall Classic. For instance, in 1975, Carlton Fisk's epic home run in Game 6 was called by Red Sox announcer Dick Stockton on NBC.
Sam Flood, executive producer of NBC Sports, explained, "The biggest complaint during the postseason is fans can't hear their team's announcers. We're having one person authentic to each team call games through the season, including the Wild Card round, to provide insider knowledge on clubhouse dynamics and player performance."
Benetti added that working with different analysts weekly presents a fun puzzle, comparing it to his experience with the late Bill Walton on ESPN college basketball broadcasts. He recalled, "Working with Bill taught me you can have diverse conversations while honoring the game and having a great time."
Additional Features and Schedule
NBC will introduce an inside pitch segment during games, featuring analysis from studio analysts Clayton Kershaw or Adam Ottavino, aiming to run once an inning or every other inning. Flood described it as taking viewers through a pitcher's approach to facing specific hitters in real-time.
The network's first game on Thursday features reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates against Juan Soto and the New York Mets, called by Matt Vasgersian with Al Leiter and Neil Walker. The first Sunday night game on NBC will be on April 12 when the Guardians visit the Atlanta Braves, with subsequent weeks on Peacock and NBCSN before NBC airs Sunday night games from May 31 through September 6.
NBC's Baseball History
NBC has a storied history with baseball, carrying games from 1939 through 1989, participating in the short-lived Baseball Network with ABC in 1994 and 1995, and airing playoff games from 1996 through 2000. This return marks a significant revival for the network in the sport.
