ESPN announced longtime baseball announcer Joe Buck will handle play-by-play duties when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the New York Mets on Jackie Robinson Day, which is being exclusively carried by the network.
Buck, who is now the voice of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, will be joined in the booth by SNY’s Ron Darling and SportsNet LA’s Orel Hershiser. Buster Olney is serving as the on-field reporter.
“I can’t wait to work with these two guys,” Buck said in a statement. “I loved watching them pitch and now really enjoy listening to them on the air. They’re the best at what they do, and I’ll be leaning on them a ton.
“To call a Dodgers game on Jackie Robinson Day makes it even more meaningful. There’s no more important figure in baseball history, and to honor him that night in Dodger Stadium will be truly special.”
Buck, who was recently named the 2026 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, has called 24 World Series in his sports broadcasting career. He returns to the baseball booth after calling ESPN’s Opening Day game last season.
For Hershiser, it also marks a homecoming of sorts as he previously served as an ESPN analyst from 2006-13.
The April 15 date marks the 79th anniversary of Robinson breaking the MLB color barrier. As per tradition, all players, managers and coaches will wear Robinson’s iconic No. 42 in Dodger Blue, regardless of their primary team colors.
It is also expected that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will gather the team, front office members and other personnel in front of the Robinson statue at Dodger Stadium to reflect on the Hall of Famer’s impact.
ESPN’s new media rights deal with MLB
The Jackie Robinson Day contest is the first of 30 games that are going to be broadcast by ESPN this season as part of their new media rights deal with MLB. The network will additionally air a special Memorial Day game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on May 25.
Furthermore, ESPN is going to broadcast the second-half opener between the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies on July 16.
The network will also continue to be the home of the MLB Little League Classic, with this year’s matchup featuring the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 23.
The exclusive matchups are part of MLB’s new media rights deal with ESPN. The network will also stream more than 150 out-of-market games via its new app.
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