MLB International

Last updated
MLB International
Major League Baseball International logo.png
MLB International logo, used since 2021
Also known asMajor League Baseball International.
MLBi
GenreSports broadcast
Narrated byGary Thorne
Dave O'Brien
Matt Vasgersian
Dan Shulman
Scott Braun
Jason Benetti
Dave Flemming
Opening themeMajor League Baseball International theme (1996-2014)
MLB Network Showcase theme (2015-present)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locations World Series MLB stadiums (game telecasts)

MLB International is a division of Major League Baseball primarily responsible for international broadcasts of games. [1] In partnership with DirecTV and MLB Network, it produces and syndicates the All-Star Game, and the World Series, as well as the Caribbean Series, the Australian Baseball League Championship Series and the World Baseball Classic to broadcasters in over 200 countries, and the American Forces Network for U.S. military troops abroad. It previously broadcast the NLCS and ALCS, alternating between the two each year. MLB International broadcasts content that shows baseball in a local context, e.g. sneaker shopping in Japan or baseball games in India, and explains concepts and rules of baseball to viewers who may not be familiar with the sport. [2]

Contents

Commentators

From 1996 until 2003 and again starting in 2010, Gary Thorne [3] served as the play-by-play man for the World Series on Armed Forces Radio and MLB International. [4] [5]

Dave O'Brien provided commentary for MLB International's coverage of the World Series from 2004 until 2009. O'Brien teamed with his usual ESPN partner Rick Sutcliffe on broadcasts of the World Series and the American League Championship Series for MLB International.

From 1996 to 2002, and 2010–2014, MLB International broadcast the League Championship Series alternately, with the American League Championship Series in even-numbered years and the National League Championship Series in odd-numbered years. [6]

MLB International logo 2015-2018 MLBi logo since 2015-2018.png
MLB International logo 2015-2018

Since 2015, production of the MLB International broadcasts has been assumed by the MLB Network. Matt Vasgersian (formerly of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball and today part of Fox Sports) in addition to the MLB Network, also current play-by-play television announcer for the Los Angeles Angels (AL) and former play-by-play television announcer for the San Diego Padres (NL) has served as the play-by-play commentator; for the 2016 World Series onward, he was joined by Buck Martinez (play-by-play analyst of the Toronto Blue Jays for Sportsnet—which has carried the world feeds due to his involvement, and former color commentator for TBS) on color. [7] Since 2018, with Matt now with ESPN part-time in addition to his MLB Network duties, Buck was joined for the All-Star Game duties by former Sunday Night Baseball voice Dan Shulman (who calls play-by-play on selected Blue Jays games on Sportsnet with Martinez on color).

In 2021, MLB Network's Scott Braun assumed the post as the main play-by-play announcer for MLB International's broadcasts. He was replaced in 2022 by Jason Benetti (NBC Sports Chicago) for the English-language international MLB All-Star Game coverage and Dave Flemming (NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR) for the global World Series coverage.

Commentator pairings

MLB International broadcasters

See also

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References

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