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| Jason Benetti |
Jason Benetti, one of the most acclaimed play-by-play announcers in sports, has been named the lead voice for NBC Sports' Major League Baseball coverage, including the network's return to Sunday Night Baseball.
NBC officially announced the hire Wednesday. Benetti will debut on March 26, calling the primetime opener as the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock—the only primetime game on MLB's Opening Day.
As the primary announcer for Sunday Night Baseball, Benetti will pair with a rotating cast of color commentators drawn from local broadcast teams. He is also expected to handle other sports assignments for NBC.
Benetti, who was under contract with Fox Sports, received an early release to join NBC. He will continue as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Tigers.
NBC's MLB coverage revives after a 25-year absence. The broadcast team includes legendary host Bob Costas for the Sunday Night Baseball pregame show. Studio analysts for wild-card telecasts and select regular-season pregame segments feature recently retired stars Joey Votto, Clayton Kershaw, and Anthony Rizzo alongside Costas and Ahmed Fareed.
The 42-year-old Chicago native has risen rapidly in the industry despite being born 10 weeks premature with cerebral palsy, which left him with a limp and other challenges. Benetti has previously called games for the Chicago White Sox, Fox Sports, ESPN, and others.
“The hurdles are not physical for me,” he told Hoops HQ earlier this year. “They are because I don’t look the same as everybody.” His inspiring story and sharp, witty style have made him a standout in sports broadcasting.