Marlins hire homegrown announcer Kyle Sielaff as new TV play-by-play voice

[Ely Sussman]

Sielaff is switching mediums in 2025 after previously handling the club's radio play-by-play.

The Miami Marlins and FanDuel Sports Network Florida concluded their search for Paul Severino's replacement on Friday by staying in house, naming Kyle Sielaff as lead play-by-play announcer for local television broadcasts in 2025.

Sielaff has spent the vast majority of his broadcasting career with the Fish. Originally from Trumansburg, NY, he is a University of Miami alum and has been involved with the Marlins Radio Network in various roles since 2013, handling regular play-by-play duties in 2023 and 2024. He has worked on a variety of video projects during his Marlins tenure, so the on-camera aspect of this shouldn't be an issue. Despite being relatively young for the TV gig at 34 years old, his familiarity with this franchise's unique history and the fanbase is a definite plus.

 

Sielaff is the seventh lead television play-by-play announcer in Marlins history, following in the footsteps of Jay Randolph, Joe Angel, Dave O'Brien, Len Kasper, Rich Waltz and Severino.

Longtime color commentator Tommy Hutton, who has worked alongside all of them during his career with the exception of Randolph, tweeted his congratulations. Hutton and Rod Allen are among the rotating group of analysts who will share the booth with Sielaff this season. 

As of last week, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that Craig Minervini was one of the candidates "being given serious consideration" for the position. Minervini has been a versatile part of Marlins TV broadcasts for many years as a studio host, reporter and Severino's play-by-play backup. Baltimore Orioles announcer Geoff Arnold was also "very much in the mix."

I have listened to dozens of Minervini's game broadcasts (a combination of Marlins and last year's Caribbean Series). Completely unfamiliar with Arnold prior to Jackson's report, I closely analyzed several games that he called on MASN in 2024. This is all very subjective, but if those were the realistic alternatives to Sielaff, I believe the Marlins got the decision right.

Back in October, the Marlins' television partner rebranded from Bally Sports to FanDuel Sports Network, but the broadcasts will still be available in all of the same places. The network hasn't announced details about spring training coverage yet. It is safe to assume that Sielaff will be on the call for at least one Grapefruit League game so he isn't drinking out of a fire hose on Opening Day.

 

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[Slacker Mills]

kelly saco to take on radio play-by-play? 

[Slacker Mills]

Just wondering if this is a promotion or downgrade for the announcer. I'm guessing that more people listen to the radio broadcasts than watch on TV. Anyone have the numbers?

[rurrusuno]

This is a huge Marlins win. Sielaff is definitely the right hire. I've tuned in on Marlins radio over the years and have loved hearing him call games. He kind of reminds me of Rich Waltz in a way. Minervini is a great studio host and reporter, but he doesn't have the voice for the play-by-play gig. 

[rurrusuno]

2 hours ago, Slacker Mills said:

Just wondering if this is a promotion or downgrade for the announcer. I'm guessing that more people listen to the radio broadcasts than watch on TV. Anyone have the numbers?

This is definitely a promotion for Kyle Sielaff. People get to see him on TV now and not have to wonder who he is. He can basically me more himself on camera. When you see highlights on social media of the game, they always have the TV play-by-play announcer's voice on, not the radio announcers'. Radio announcers tend to be more gung-ho on just the game rather than their personality. 

Nowadays, more people watch games on TV than listen to the radio broadcasts. With TV broadcasts, you just get way more bang for your buck from the media, whether that's through pre/post-game interviews, analytics from the previous game or current homestand, and even some quick leaguewide coverage. I will say though that radio broadcasts are more popular in baseball than any other sport due it being pretty descriptive. 

I will always remember how my great-uncle used to always watch the Marlins games on mute and have the Spanish radio in his hand while listening to Yiky Quintana. Classic. 

[Slacker Mills]

Bastante bien,, rurrusuno. Gracias.

[1993 fan from start]

10 hours ago, rurrusuno said:

This is a huge Marlins win. Sielaff is definitely the right hire. I've tuned in on Marlins radio over the years and have loved hearing him call games. He kind of reminds me of Rich Waltz in a way. Minervini is a great studio host and reporter, but he doesn't have the voice for the play-by-play gig. 

 He kind of reminds me of Rich Waltz. that a big postive over Paul S.  . I could never 100% get behind Paul S.    Sielaff can;t wait to hear more of.     great youtube nideo of Sielaff.  Rich will be one of my all time favorets  . 

[One Regend]

With all the godawful moves the Marlins have made in the offseason, this is the only transaction I can say with certainty that they have gotten right.

Maybe having a good play by play might actually make this team be bearable to watch.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

On 1/18/2025 at 11:42 AM, rurrusuno said:

This is a huge Marlins win. Sielaff is definitely the right hire. I've tuned in on Marlins radio over the years and have loved hearing him call games. He kind of reminds me of Rich Waltz in a way. Minervini is a great studio host and reporter, but he doesn't have the voice for the play-by-play gig. 

Agree.