Earlier this week, ESPN announced the hiring of former Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone as a analyst for Baseball Tonight. Today, another analyst was hired and it’s former Toronto Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi.
J.P. Ricciardi Joins ESPN as Baseball Tonight Analyst
J.P. Ricciardi, a 30-year professional baseball veteran – including roles as a Major League Baseball front office executive, scout, and Minor League Baseball manager and player – has joined ESPN as a Baseball Tonight analyst. Ricciardi will debut in March.“I’m really excited about joining the ESPN Baseball Tonight family,” said Ricciardi. “I look forward to sharing my perspective of the game, which has many layers and has been built over the years through my various roles.”Jay Levy, ESPN senior coordinating producer, said, “J.P. will bring diverse, compelling perspectives to Baseball Tonight. He knows the current landscape of the game and has seen it evolve through all levels, as a player, coach, scout and front office executive.”Ricciardi most recently spent eight seasons as general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays (2001-09). Prior to joining the Blue Jays, Ricciardi held a wide variety of positions during 16 years with the Oakland Athletics including director of player personnel, special assistant to the GM, and roles in scouting and instruction.Before joining the Oakland organization, Ricciardi held a coaching position in the New York Yankees’ farm system. He played professionally for two minor league seasons with the New York Mets.Ricciardi was a member of the baseball selection committees for the Pan Am Games and the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team in 2000.In addition to his diversified baseball experiences, Ricciardi coached basketball for 11 years (1990-2001) at Holy Name High School in Worcester, Mass.Ricciardi currently resides in West Boylston, Mass., with his wife of 25 years, Diane, and their two sons.
It’s an interesting hire.
