ceremonies for Homewood Baseball and Softball in 2017.
(Chronicle file photo)
Homewood native, Homewood-Flossmoor High School graduate and childhood White Sox fan Jason Benetti is leaving the Chicago baseball club’s broadcast booth for the division rival Detroit Tigers.
Benetti’s eighth season in the booth on the south side as the team’s play-by-play announcer will be his last, both teams announced Thursday.
“You’ve spent 8 years making me feel welcome and loved and appreciated. And I love you dearly,” Benetti told White Sox fans from his X (formerly Twitter) account. “I will always cherish you and your passion and joy. You mean more than you know to me. Thank you for filling my heart.”
Dear @whitesox fans,
— Jason Benetti (@jasonbenetti) November 9, 2023
You’ve spent 8 years making me feel welcome and loved and appreciated. And I love you dearly.
I will always cherish you and your passion and joy. You mean more than you know to me.
Thank you for filling my heart.#IsItRaining Yes, as I type this.
Benetti signed a multiyear contract to work with the Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit.
“I’m incredibly proud to join this historic and ascending Tigers franchise,” Benetti said in a statement. “From every single person I talked with throughout the interview process it was clear why so many respected professionals and creative people have joined the organization in the last several years. There’s something special about it, and I’m excited to bring that energy to Tigers fans around the globe.”
“I was born and raised in the Midwest, and understand how important sports are, especially here in the Motor City.”
In 2022, he left ESPN after 11 years to sign with Fox Sports, for which he handles MLB, NFL and NCAA football and basketball games. He also calls NCAA tournament games on the radio for Westwood One, did the play-by-play for Peacock’s Sunday morning/afternoon baseball package in 2022 and broadcasted Olympic baseball on NBC in 2021.
Benetti will call a minimum of 127 Tigers games this season. The first regular-season one will be March 28 against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“All of us at Bally Sports welcome Jason to Detroit, and we’re thrilled he’s joining our Tigers telecasts,” Greg Hammaren, senior vice president and general manager of Bally Sports Detroit, said in a statement. “Jason’s reputation as one of the best and brightest announcers across all of sports adds to our already strong production effort here in Detroit. His deep knowledge and love for baseball are traits shared by our incredible fans, and we’re looking forward to them getting to know Jason more starting in February when the Tigers take the field in Lakeland.”
The White Sox reportedly will not replace Benetti with radio play-by-play man Len Kasper, who previously handled Cubs games on TV. Their search has begun for a different replacement.
Benetti did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.