Dec
03
John Kruk Replaces Terry Francona on Sunday Night Baseball
While my nephew has a morning snack sitting next to me, we learn that ESPN has announced that long-time Baseball Tonight analyst John Kruk will be leaving the studio and joining Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser on Sunday Night Baseball. During last year’s Baseball Winter Meetings, ESPN announced that Terry Francona would be joining the network as an analyst with Shulman and Hershiser. Now with Francona leaving to join the Cleveland MLB team, Kruk’s addition has been announced as this year’s Winter Meetings have begun.
Here’s the announcement from ESPN for you in black and white.
ESPN’s John Kruk Joins Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN’s John Kruk will join Sunday Night Baseball – the exclusive national Major League Baseball game of the week – as an analyst beginning in the 2013 season. Kruk, who has served as a Baseball Tonight studio analyst since joining ESPN in 2004, will team up with NSSA Sportscaster of the Year Dan Shulman and analyst Orel Hershiser to form the new Sunday Night booth. The trio is also joined by reporter Buster Olney.
“It’s a real honor to work with Dan and Orel, and to be front and center on baseball’s biggest game of the week,” said Kruk. “When I was asked to join the team, I couldn’t have been happier.”
Kruk has served as a guest analyst for ESPN’s MLB game telecasts over the years, including Sunday Night Baseball. Additionally, he’s contributed to the network’s coverage of the Home Run Derby, Little League World Series and Gold Glove Awards Show.
Mike McQuade, ESPN Vice President, Production, added, “Kruk has every attribute that makes an analyst great. He’s intelligent, he’s opinionated, he brings a ton of personality and his track record at ESPN speaks for itself.”
Kruk played 10 MLB seasons (1986-1995) as a first baseman and outfielder with the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. He was a three-time All-Star and finished his career with a .300 batting average and 100 home runs.
“I always admired the way John competed on the field, and every time I’ve been on Baseball Tonight with him, I’ve been impressed with his depth of knowledge about the game,” said Sunday Night’s Orel Hershiser. “Now I’m looking forward to sitting next to him every Sunday Night.”
“Krukkie is funny, knowledgeable and passionate about baseball,” said Dan Shulman. “I think he and Orel will make a terrific analyst combo in the booth, and I can’t wait for the three of us getting started.”
Sunday Night Baseball airs at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and via WatchESPN during the MLB season.
That’s all.
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