NBC’s new MLB coverage will feel familiar for some baseball fans after a Detroit Tigers broadcaster earned a huge opportunity with the network.
In 2026, NBC and Peacock will begin to host weekly MLB games after obtaining sports media rights recently. That includes Sunday Night Baseball moving from ESPN over to NBC for the first time in decades.
Front Office Sports is now reporting that Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti will become the lead announcer for NBC’s MLB coverage.
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EXCLUSIVE: NBC is hiring Jason Benetti as its top MLB announcer, sources tell FOS.
Benetti’s debut will come during the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game on Sunday Night Baseball in March as the network returns to MLB coverage. He will remain in his role calling local Tigers broadcasts.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 4, 2026
Benetti became the lead play-by-play announcer for Detroit entering the 2024 season. The 42 year old will continue his role with the Tigers while also balancing NBC’s new national TV games.
The Tigers broadcaster will make his NBC debut on March 26 when the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Benetti’s color commentary team is expected to feature a rotating cast of broadcasters throughout the season, per FOS.
Meanwhile, Benetti will feature on other NBC games outside of baseball, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. During Benetti’s previous time with the network, he helped with Olympics coverage and his role could extend into other NBC properties like NBA and NFL games.
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Detroit Tigers broadcasters Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson before a MLB spring training game.
NBC has brought in a robust roster of former MLB stars to bolster its coverage in 2026. Former stars like Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto and Anthony Rizzo have all been signed to bring studio coverage for NBC.
Meanwhile, NBC legend Bob Costas and Ahmed Fareed will lead studio broadcasts, as well as pre-and-post game shows on the network.
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