ESPN has hired Ryan Howard. Also: a full schedule for Kenny Albert and Joe Micheletti; a new role for Kevin Burkhardt; and a loss in the baseball family.
Ryan Howard joins ESPN
Former Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ryan Howard has joined ESPN as a Major League Baseball analyst, it was announced this week. Howard, who will debut in March, will contribute to ESPN’s wealth of studio shows, including Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter and Get Up!. [ESPN PR 2.21]
Albert, Micheletti, working three games in two days
Broadcasters Kenny Albert and Joe Micheletti will work three games in three cities over a 24-hour period this weekend. The duo will work Rangers-Devils Saturday afternoon, Penguins-Flyers Saturday night, and then Rangers-Capitals Sunday afternoon. They will work separately on the Rangers games, with Albert on the radio and Micheletti on MSG Network, and pair together on Penguins-Flyers for Westwood One and NBC Sports Radio. [MSG]
Burkhardt adds Rays gig
Fox Sports broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt has reached a deal to work twenty Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball games this season. The New York Post first reported the news, which was announced by Fox Sports Florida on Thursday. Burkhardt, who calls baseball and NFL games for Fox, previously worked Mets games as a dugout reporter for SNY. [NYP 2.21]
Red Sox reporter Cafardo passes away
Longtime Boston Globe writer Nick Cafardo passed away Thursday after suffering an apparent embolism at the Red Sox spring training facility. He was 62. Cafardo had been with the Globe since 1989, primarily covering the Red Sox. He also spent time covering the Patriots, and wrote a book about the team’s 2001-02 Super Bowl run. Cafardo was a frequent guest on local and national media, including MLB Network. [Boston Globe 2.21]
UPDATE 3/29: Original version of this post erroneously said Ryan Howard previously worked for Turner Sports.
