Jessica Mendoza to remain on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball

Jessica Mendoza, who replaced Curt Schilling on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball last week, will remain in the booth for the remainder of the season.

Jessica Mendoza, who replaced Curt Schilling on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball last week, will remain in the booth for the remainder of the season, the network announced Friday.

Schilling was removed from ESPN broadcasts for the remainder of the MLB season and the AL Wild Card Game on Oct. 6 after he tweeted an offensive message that compared Muslims to Nazi-era Germans on Aug. 25.

Mendoza became the first woman in the booth for an ESPN MLB broadcast in August when she served as an analyst during a Diamondbacks-Cardinals game.

• Curt Schilling apologizes, says offensive tweet was ‘bad decision’

She recently spoke to SI’s Richard Deitsch about the rarity of women calling baseball games.

I have always believed women can be just as knowledgeable in the booth while also bringing unique insights that allow a viewer to see a different angle to the game. I have worked with ex-MLB players in our coverage of the Women's College World Series (John Kruk and Schilling) and have found their insight to be knowledgeable and unique as well. I think the more we challenge ourselves to progress within sport, the more interest it will bring to those who may have been outside of it before.

Mendoza will be in the booth for ESPN on Sunday night when the Pirates visit the Cardinals.

- Kenny Ducey