Former Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League) broadcaster Ben Wagner is heading to the majors, as he is the new radio voice of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays are going to see some shakeups in their broadcasts for the upcoming season, as longtime broadcaster Jerry Howarth announced his retirement earlier this year. Part of that change is the introduction of Wagner, who has worked with the Bisons for the last 11 seasons. Wagner will come to Toronto with considerable knowledge of the organization, as the Bisons have served as the Blue Jays’ Class AAA affiliate since 2013.
His appointment as the new radio voice on the Sportsnet Radio Network, which begins with the start of the 2018 Major League Baseball season, is one of the major announcements concerning the broadcast team for 2018. Dan Shulman will on the air for select games, while Mike Wilner is also a part of the broadcast team. More from Sportsnet:
After 11 seasons as the voice of the Blue Jays’ triple-A affiliate, Wagner makes his Major League debut calling the Blue Jays’ season opener on Thursday, March 29.
“It is a dream come true, and a lot of years in the making,” said Wagner. “To follow in the footsteps of legends like Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth, and to work alongside Mike Wilner and Dan Shulman, I am honoured to have the opportunity to provide the soundtrack of summer to Canadian baseball fans.”
“Ben Wagner has a unique and descriptive way of calling a ball game,” said Dave Cadeau, national format director of sports, Rogers Radio. “He’s an extremely talented broadcaster and I’m looking forward to hearing him across the Sportsnet Radio Network for the next generation. Dan Shulman is simply one of the greatest play-by-play voices in the world, and to have him returning to where his career first started is a thrill for all of us.”
In Buffalo, it has been announced that Pat Malacaro is the new voice of the Bisons. That announcement comes weeks before their season begins on April 6.
Malacaro has been a member of the #Bisons family for nearly 20 years
’99-’02 –#Bisons Bat Boy
’04-’05 –#Bisons radio intern
’05-’18 –@RichProducts associate
2010 -Joined #Bisons broadcast teamalso member of @WGR550 team since 2006. @BuffaloSabres https://t.co/C5SBuYc64s
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) March 27, 2018
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