The 2021 season marked a return to normalcy of sorts as MLB transitioned back to a full 162-game schedule and fans were welcomed back to ballparks for the first time in two years.
However, there were several health and safety measures that initially in place, including weekly coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, an initial mask mandate for non-vaccinated players and social distancing.
Additional elements from the pandemic-shortened 2020 season were brought back well. Team broadcasters once again did not travel to road games and instead called them remotely.
That will change this year, as according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, Los Angeles Dodgers TV and radio broadcasters will be traveling to all games during the 2022 season:
For the first time since 2019 #Dodgers broadcasters — TV and radio, English and Spanish — will be traveling to all road games this year. No more broadcasting remotely from empty stadium or truck in parking lot
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 6, 2022
The Dodgers broadcast team returned Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín, Joe Davis, Orel Hershiser, Fernando Valenzuela, Charley Steiner, Rick Monday, Nomar Garciaparra, Pepe Yñiguez, Jerry Hairston Jr., John Hartung, Tim Neverett and Kirsten Watson.
Meanwhile, Adrián Gonzalez, Eric Karros, Jessica Mendoza, José Mota and Dontrelle Willis were announced as new additions to the Dodgers broadcast crew. They will hold various roles across Spectrum SportsNet LA, AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio and KTNQ 1020 AM.
Gonzalez ‘can’t wait’ to reconnect with Dodgers fans
Gonzalez, who played for the Dodgers from 2012-17, joined the broadcast team as an analyst for SportsNet LA’s live studio programs, “Leadoff LA” and “Access SportsNet: Dodgers” pregame and postgame shows.
“I’m so excited to be working on the pregame and post game broadcasts this year,” he said in a statement. “I can’t wait to reconnect with all of the great Dodger fans.”
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