Jason Benetti Joins Tigers After Surprising Departure From White Sox

Benetti had called White Sox broadcasts for eight seasons.

Jason Benetti is leaving the White Sox broadcast booth to become the TV play-by-play voice for the Tigers. Detroit announced the hire on Thursday through its social media channels. 

The widely popular Benetti replaces Matt Shepard, who was let go by the Tigers shortly after their 2023 season ended. Shepard had called the team's TV broadcasts on Bally Sports Detroit for the past five years. 

One of the top voices in sports is coming to the 313!

Renowned broadcaster @jasonbenetti has inked a multi-year contract to be our television play-by-play announcer.

🔗: https://t.co/lqtPaadLPw pic.twitter.com/anVDU1x8wO

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) November 9, 2023

For Benetti, this ends an eight-season run with the White Sox. The Illinois native saw his national profile grow while broadcasting college football and basketball for ESPN, in addition to the network’s alternate “Statcast” baseball telecasts. Benetti was also the lead play-by-play voice for Peacock’s MLB Sunday Leadoff during the 2022 season. He currently calls college football and basketball, MLB, and NFL games for Fox Sports. 

White Sox faithful are disappointed at losing a cherished voice in broadcasting, while Tigers supporters expressed excitement over what is viewed as an upgrade to moribund telecasts. Benetti’s move was a surprise for fans and media across the MLB world. Here’s a sampling of the social media reaction:

The #WhiteSox have announced that Jason Benetti is leaving the organization.

He will leave to become the new voice of the Detroit #Tigers.

One of the best voices in all of sports, born and raised in Chicago, is leaving.

— Ryan McGuffey (@RyanMcGuffey) November 9, 2023

It doesn’t add a single win for the upcoming season but the Tigers (Not Bally) paying Benetti speaks to a more serious approach from the franchise. This is a premiere national guy and they paid to make it happen

This is an iconic baseball team and they acted like it

— Jim Costa (@JimCosta_) November 9, 2023

Jason Benetti is quite literally one of the best play by play announcers in the world and he’s somehow a better person. This is a massive loss for the White Sox organization and more importantly, White Sox fans.

I’m thrilled for my friend who will crush it for the Tigers.

— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) November 9, 2023

A good TV voice can prop up a bad baseball team for me and make it more tolerable. A’s, Giants in recent years. Mets when they were bad. The Tigers have had a horrible booth for years to pair with a bad team. Good job by them. I will tune in more just to listen to Benetti.

— Cody Foster (@Co2dy_Foster) November 9, 2023

The Tigers weren’t messing around and went out and got one of the best in the game in Jason Benetti!

That’s a home run hire!

Well done!

— Jeff Riger (@riger1984) November 9, 2023

“I'm incredibly proud to join this historic and ascending Tigers franchise,” Benetti said in a statement. “There’s something special about it, and I’m excited to bring that energy to Tigers fans around the globe.”

Benetti is expected to call at least 127 telecasts for the Tigers. The team’s radio voice, Dan Dickerson, will fill in when Benetti works Fox Sports broadcasts.