The Los Angeles Dodgers added a new member to their broadcast team with the hiring of Kirsten Watson as reporter and host for SportsNet LA. She fills a role that had been vacated with Alanna Rizzo electing to step away.
“We feel that our broadcast is one of the best in sports and know that Kirsten can help make it even stronger,” Dodgers executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen said in a statement. “We’re excited for Dodger fans to get to know her.”
Rizzo had been with SportsNet LA since the network’s launch in 2014. Watson also has history with Spectrum, having spent the prior two years working as a reporter and host in their coverage of the L.A. Lakers, Sparks and South Bay Lakers.
Watson additionally was a co-host for Spectrum SportsNet’s “LakeShow.” Now focusing on the Dodgers, Watson will contribute to SportsNet LA’s pre- and postgame coverage on both television and radio, in addition to being part of studio programming.
“I am excited to continue my passion as a storyteller with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Watson said. “To have the opportunity to be a member of and represent one of the most iconic sports franchises is an honor.”
Watson currently serves as a producer for the NFL, creating localized content for international markets, hosting its “Game Recognize Game” series and organizing international trips for players for content and media opportunities. Watson previously hosted Monday Night Football on Channel 5 in the UK, an international broadcast in partnership with NFL Network.
Watson earned her Bachelor’s degree from Columbia, where she was a member of the school’s volleyball team. After completion of her Master’s degree at Columbia Journalism School, Watson was awarded the Stuart Scott Internship-Scholarship from the National Association of Black Journalists and ESPN, where she produced video packages for SportsCenter and NFL Live.
Dodgers almost passed over Davis
While Joe Davis has become a beloved member of the Dodgers broadcast team and perfect candidate to carry the torch from Vin Scully, there was a time when he nearly didn’t end up with the organization.
During an episode of the “Off Air w/ Joe and Orel” podcast, Davis revealed the Dodgers first offered the position to Matt Vasgersian. As he mulled over the opportunity, the Dodgers shifted to finding a solution with Davis, who was hired and continues to fill national broadcasting duties.
There was some speculation the Chicago Cubs would look to hire Davis — who grew up rooting for the team and hails from the Midwest — as their play-by-play announcer on Marquee Sports Network. They wound up hiring Jon “Boog” Sciambi as the replacement to Len Kasper.
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