Jason Benetti Takes Center Stage as NBC’s Lead Voice for Sunday Night Baseball

When NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood got the news in November that his network would be covering baseball again, he wasted no time in choosing his play-by-play voice and the format to go with it. Fans will get their first taste on Thursday with an opening day doubleheader.

The evening game featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will mark Jason Benetti’s debut as the lead baseball announcer for NBC. Benetti will take the helm of “Sunday Night Baseball,” now airing on NBC and Peacock after a 26-season run on ESPN. Fans may recognize Benetti’s voice from his work on the “MLB Sunday Leadoff” package on Peacock in 2022 and his coverage of baseball during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

“I always joked with Sam that if NBC ever got baseball back, I’d be on his list to call. And now here we are,” Benetti shared gratefully. Previously with Fox Sports, Benetti transitioned to NBC for this exciting opportunity, leaving behind a legacy of calling baseball, NFL, college football, and college basketball games.

Over the next three seasons, NBC will cover Sunday night games and Wild Card rounds after ESPN relinquished its original rights deal with MLB. Benetti, known for his work in Detroit and Chicago, especially with the Tigers and White Sox, will bring his expertise to the national stage.

The format for “Sunday Night Baseball” will mirror the successful setup of “Sunday Leadoff.” Benetti will be joined in the booth by analysts representing both teams. The opening game will feature former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser and Diamondbacks slugger Luis Gonzalez. In future matchups, fans can expect different combinations of analysts from both teams, providing unique perspectives and engaging conversations each week.

Benetti expressed excitement for the opportunity to work with a variety of analysts, comparing it to his experiences covering college basketball with the legendary Bill Walton. NBC will also introduce an “inside pitch” segment during games, featuring insights from Clayton Kershaw and Adam Ottavino, studio analysts who will provide a pitcher’s perspective on the action.

NBC’s long history with baseball dates back to 1939, although recent coverage has been limited. The network was part of the short-lived Baseball Network in the 1990s and aired playoff games in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, with a fresh lineup of talent and a renewed focus on the game, NBC is gearing up for an exciting season of baseball coverage ahead.