Behind the Mic: Joe Davis Becomes New Voice of MLB on Fox; Melanie Newman Joins MLB Network

Behind the Mic: Joe Davis Becomes New Voice of MLB on Fox; Melanie Newman Joins MLB Network By SVG Staff

Friday, April 8, 2022 - 11:01 am

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Behind the Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, Joe Davis is the new voice of MLB on Fox, ESPN re-signs five investigative reporters, and more.

Joe Davis Tapped as FOX's New MLB Voice FOX Sports ushers in a new era as it readies to take the field for its 27th Major League Baseball season. Today, Brad Zager, president of production/operations and executive producer, named award-winning, ace broadcaster Joe Davis to FOX MLB's lead play-by-play position - becoming the new voice of MLB's premier events.

It's been amazing to watch Joe's continued growth over the years developing into one of the elite broadcasters in all of sports, said Zager. As an integral part of our coverage over the last several years, his transition onto baseball's biggest stage is a natural fit and we couldn't be more excited to have him as the new voice of MLB on FOX.

Davis, tapped in 2017 to succeed Vin Scully, legendary voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, joins first-ballot Hall of Famer and Emmy Award winner John Smoltz in the network's lead booth. The pair, alongside Emmy Award-winning reporters Tom Verducci and Ken Rosenthal, are on deck to present FOX Sports' coverage of the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, MLB at Field of Dreams Game and MLB Postseason - including its 25th Fall Classic. Davis' first appearance in his new role is set for Saturday, May 28 on FOX.

Additionally, he will continue his role for local Dodgers telecasts on SportsNet LA.

If you had asked me when I was 10 what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would've told you Call the World Series.' So when I say this is a dream-come-true, I really mean it, said Davis. One of the best parts about this is the team I get to work with. Obviously Smoltzy I've had a blast getting to know John and building such a comfort together in the booth these last few years. He, Kenny and Tom along with our producer Pete Macheska and director Matt Gangl are all superstars - the absolute best at what they do. They've been so welcoming to me through the years as I've worked more and more with their group. It's all about the people you're with, and I'm really lucky in that regard.

Davis joined FOX Sports in 2014 as a play-by-play announcer for the network's MLB, college football and college basketball coverage. He has been in the booth for FOX Sports' Division Series coverage since 2017 and called a Championship Series game alongside Smoltz during the 2019 and 2020 MLB Postseasons, respectively.

Having worked with Joe before, finding our chemistry in the booth is already well underway and I'm looking forward to our partnership over the next several years, said Smoltz. I had the opportunity to work with the very best at FOX Sports in Joe Buck, and I feel fortunate to get to continue with another exceptionally talented Joe' in Joe Davis.

Davis attended Beloit (Wis.) College, where he was a four-year letter winner on the school's football team. The most important training he received however, may have come during the offseason when he assumed play-by-play duties for the school's athletic department - calling baseball and men's and women's basketball games on local radio and television.

Just before his senior year, Davis secured a job with the Schaumburg Flyers baseball team of the independent Northern League, serving as the team's play-by-play voice and media relations director. With that professional experience in hand, he landed a role as the play-by-play voice of the Montgomery (Ala.) Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Davis called Biscuits games for three seasons and was named the Southern League Broadcaster of the Year in 2012.

While in Montgomery, he also gained experience serving as a radio host for the Baylor Independent Sports Properties Network while picking up reps at Comcast Sports Southeast as a play-by-play announcer for college football, basketball and baseball.

At just 24 years old, he made the impressive leap to national television - joining ESPN in 2012 as an announcer, ultimately lending his call to college baseball, basketball, football, hockey and softball games. Davis also appeared in spot duty for MLB contests on ESPN Radio. In 2013, Davis was assigned to the network's broadcast of the Poinsettia Bowl, becoming the youngest person to ever announce a bowl game for ESPN (25).

Melanie Newman Joins MLB Network Play-by-play broadcaster, host, and reporter Melanie Newman has joined MLB Network's on-air roster appearing across its programming. Newman's MLB Network role is in addition to her broadcast work covering the Baltimore Orioles for MASN and the Orioles Radio Network, which she will again continue this season. As part of her new responsibilities, Newman will regularly do play-by-play for Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV this season, plus host MLB Network studio programs. With MLB Network producing in partnership with Apple, Newman is set to do play-play-play for the New York Mets at Washington Nationals tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on Apple TV , alongside Chris Young, Hannah Keyser and Brooke Fletcher. 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 last August

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/04/08/behind-the-mic-joe-davis-become...
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