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

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.