When the Detroit Tigers last made significant changes to their television broadcast booth, they went with an internal hire.
They decided to swing for the fences after parting ways with play-by-play man Matt Shepard this offseason.
On Thursday, the Tigers hired Jason Benetti from the Chicago White Sox, inking a multiyear deal with one of the country’s most respected broadcasters.
Benetti will cover at least 127 games per year. Dan Dickerson, a longtime radio play-by-play man, will take over the TV booth when Benetti is away calling national games.
Benetti said the Tigers contacted his agent after the season to see if he was interested in the job, assuming the White Sox allowed him to interview. Benneti responded positively, and the White Sox allowed him to pursue the opportunity.
Benetti spoke with Tigers officials via Zoom before traveling to Detroit for an in-person meeting.
His lasting impression? “They want to put together a telecast that is phenomenal.”
Benetti stated that he would not have accepted the position if this were not the case.
Benetti, 40, grew up in the Chicago suburbs, where he supported the White Sox. It wasn’t a stretch to call joining the team’s broadcast booth in 2016 his dream job.
As a result, the decision to relocate to Detroit was not taken lightly.
“What (the Tigers) wanted in an announcer is what I fancy myself as,” he said. “You can’t say no when someone’s ideals are so similar to yours.” People may interpret that as a slight against the White Sox. It isn’t. It’s just that every now and then you arrive somewhere and think, “Oh my gosh, this is right.” And I can’t believe it’s true because I’m about to leave home.’
Please don’t underestimate how strongly I need to feel this in order to leave there.”
Benetti expressed gratitude to the White Sox for the opportunities he received. Benetti suffers from cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that manifests itself in early childhood and permanently impairs body movement and muscle coordination.
“The White Sox hired me, a person who doesn’t walk normally, to be a front-facing person in the organization in 2016,” he said. “And they are the only reason I’m here today.”
“I’m aware of what people might say about my departure and everything. But the White Sox didn’t have to give me permission for this opportunity. And there are a lot of wonderful people there who I adore. So anything I say about the Tigers does not reflect on the White Sox.”
Life as a baseball broadcaster, according to Benetti, is like a “new crossword puzzle every day.” He said he enjoys the drama, but also the levity that occasionally appears unexpectedly during the broadcasts, such as the time fans stole a giant bag of popcorn.
“We did a three-act play about it,” he told me. “The stuff you see around the ballpark, I love that.”
It is unknown with whom he will share the booth. With Shepard, the Tigers used a rotating cast. Initially, the commentary duties were shared by Jack Morris and Kirk Gibson. Craig Monroe has recently served as primary analyst, with Gibson, Dan Petry, Cameron Maybin, and Todd Jones providing occasional contributions in 2023.
“We’re currently working through our plans to pair Jason with the right group of people to maximize our broadcast for fans,” Ryan Gustafson, executive vice president of Ilitch Sports+Entertainment, said. “We’ll be making some announcements as we get closer to Opening Day.”
Gustafson stated that after the season, the Tigers approached Dickerson about contributing to television broadcasts in 2024.
“Dan is well-liked in the market. We appreciate Jason’s willingness to participate in national games when he is away. And I believe our fans are excited as well.”
Benetti’s first regular-season game with the Tigers will be against the White Sox on March 28, 2024, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
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