MLB game analyst David Ross is back at ESPN after seven years away from the network.<\/p>\n
The journeyman catcher, who won two World Series last decade, joined the ESPN broadcast of a World Baseball Classic exhibition game on Tuesday to announce the move. The network confirmed the move during Ross\u2019s appearance<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so pumped to be back,\u201d Ross said. \u201cThe ESPN family has been special to me, and I can\u2019t wait to watch some more baseball, be more involved.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Cubs manager and current Team USA WBC bullpen coach David Ross is returning to ESPN as an MLB analyst. \u26be\ufe0f\ud83d\udcfa\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f #MLB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/stmEO9p0az<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Ross joined the Worldwide Leader shortly after winning his second World Series championship with the Chicago Cubs in 2017. During his first go-round<\/a>, Ross worked ESPN\u2019s weekday MLB games while also appearing on\u00a0Baseball Tonight,\u00a0Get Up, and\u00a0SportsCenter.<\/p>\n Shortly after signing an extension with ESPN, Ross was hired to manage the Cubs, a post he occupied for four seasons. The team largely disappointed during his tenure, leading to his dismissal in 2023. Currently, Ross is serving as a bullpen manager for Team USA at the WBC.<\/p>\n The network\u2019s baseball coverage has changed dramatically since Ross left.\u00a0Baseball Tonight was reduced to a weekly show leading into\u00a0Sunday Night Baseball. With NBC taking those game rights, the future of the studio show is unclear.<\/p>\n For the next three seasons, ESPN and ABC will split rights to 30 MLB telecasts. Most will air on ESPN during the week, along with a select handful of weekend day games on ABC.<\/p>\n