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Jason Benetti signs multi-year contract with Detroit Tigers as TV play-by-play broadcaster

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Jason Benetti signs multi-year contract with Detroit Tigers as TV play-by-play broadcaster


The Detroit Tigers promised to be ambitious in their search process for a new voice of the team. It’s safe to say, the franchise accomplished that by hiring one of the best in the business.

The Tigers hired broadcaster Jason Benetti on Thursday as the television play-by-play announcer on the Bally Sports Detroit broadcast, beginning in the 2024 season.

He signed a multi-year contract.

Benetti, who replaces Matt Shepard, has spent the past eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox. The 40-year-old will be employed by the Tigers, not Bally Sports Detroit.

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“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.”

Benetti will broadcast a minimum of 127 games per season for the Tigers. He still has national broadcast obligations. In the case of scheduling conflicts, radio play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson will move to the TV booth when Benetti isn’t calling games.

Both Benetti and Dickerson want Tigers fans to have the best broadcast experience throughout the entire season. In Benetti and Dickerson, the Tigers have what could be described as the best TV and radio duo in baseball.

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The Tigers posted a 78-84 record for second place in the American League Central — widely considered the weakest division — in the 2023 season. The first-place Minnesota Twins plan to cut payroll this offseason. The Tigers, if the young players perform to expectations, could compete for the AL Central title in 2024, even without a splashy free-agent signing.

Recently, Benetti met with CEO and chairman Christopher Ilitch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris.

“Everyone I spent time with made it clear this was the right place for me,” Benetti said. “I was born and raised in the Midwest and understand how important sports are, especially here in the Motor City.”

Benetti, diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler, grew up in Homewood, Illinois, about 25 miles south of Chicago. He graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 2001.

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He graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2005 with bachelor’s degrees in journalism, economics and physiology. He also graduated from Wake Forest University’s School of Law in 2011 with a juris doctor degree.

In his career, Benetti has worked for ESPN, NBC and Fox, but he is now primarily contracted with Fox Sports for national assignments. He joined the White Sox as the TV play-by-play announcer on NBC Sports Chicago in the 2016 season for select home and road games. He handled full-time play-by-play duties in the 2019-23 seasons, following Ken Harrelson’s retirement.

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The search and hiring processes were led by Ron Colangelo (Senior Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment), Ben Fidelman (Director of Communications and Broadcasting, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment) and Jeff Byle (Executive Producer, Bally Sports Detroit).

“Jason is a world-class talent and today is another tremendous step forward for the Tigers as we continue to build a championship-level organization and experience for our fans,” Ryan Gustafson, EVP/COO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, said in a statement. “Beyond his talent, Jason’s story is an inspiration and our shared commitment to excellence and innovation was apparent throughout our discussions. We are thrilled to welcome Jason to our family.”

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“All of us at Bally Sports welcome Jason to Detroit, and we’re thrilled he’s joining our Tigers telecasts,” Greg Hammaren, Bally Sports Detroit senior vice president and general manager, 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.”

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.





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Detroit, MI

High-Spending New York Mets Reportedly out of Sweepstakes for Detroit Tigers Target

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High-Spending New York Mets Reportedly out of Sweepstakes for Detroit Tigers Target


It’s been strange to see Alex Bregman sit on the open market for so long, and while that seemingly has played into the favor of the Detroit Tigers since they were never going to offer him the high-priced contract he was seeking, things are now starting to heat up for the star.

Originally, he appeared destined to leave the Houston Astros when the two sides were far apart in contract negotiations and that front office decided to bring in some other players to address their roster needs.

But, as the offseason continues to roll on and he remains unsigned, momentum has started to pick up for him to return to that franchise.

Where do the Tigers stand when it comes to Bregman?

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That’s the question this fan base is trying to figure out.

Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY said Detroit made him an offer, but the insider reported that neither they, the Boston Red Sox nor the Toronto Blue Jays went to the $200 million range he wants. The insider also reports two of the three extended a five-year deal, but he didn’t reveal which teams put that offer on the table.

The Tigers, Blue Jays and Red Sox have been the trio most prominently linked to Bregman throughout the winter, but others have been hanging around in the periphery like the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.

After it appeared like the Cubs were no longer interested when it was revealed the two-time World Series champion wouldn’t take a short-term contract, some subsequent reports suggested they were still considering bringing him in.

However, it appears like the high-spending Mets are now out of the sweepstakes.

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According to Ari Alexander of KPRC 2, New York is now no longer involved in negotiations for Bregman, something that further opens up the path for Detroit to land their dream target.

Billionaire owner Steve Cohen is a wild card, but after he handed out the record-setting contract to Juan Soto this offseason, it seems like even he is putting a limit on his own spending with them considering moving on from their star slugger Pete Alonso.

That’s good for the Tigers.

While the trio of Detroit, Boston and Toronto seemed to be in lockstep about what they were willing to give Bregman, the Mets could have completely blown that away if Cohen decided to hand out another expensive check.

This is something the Tigers have to take advantage of if they truly want to sign Bregman.

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If the finances are equal, then there’s a good chance he’ll return to the Astros, the team that selected him second overall and is the only organization he’s ever known.

Detroit has been measured this winter so far, but to truly transform the state of this franchise, it’s time for them to add someone who would immediately become their best offensive player.



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Detroit, MI

Man and woman injured in shooting on Detroit’s west side

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Man and woman injured in shooting on Detroit’s west side


2 seriously injured in shooting on Detroit’s west side

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2 seriously injured in shooting on Detroit’s west side

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(CBS DETROIT) — Detroit police are working to learn more about a shooting on the city’s west side that seriously injured a man and a woman Saturday night. 

Authorities say the shooting happened around 8 p.m. in the area of Dexter Avenue and Lothrop Street.

The man and woman, both in their 30s, were taken to the hospital.

A frame from video taken near the scene shortly after shows what appears to be a red SUV that collided with a tree.

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CBS News Detroit


The Detroit Police Department is working to learn about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. 

Earlier Saturday, three people were shot in Dearborn Heights. Police there say that shooting happened around 1 a.m. on the 23000 block of North Brookside Drive.  

It’s unknown if arrests have been made in either incident. 

This is a developing story. Stay with CBS News Detroit for the latest information. 

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Detroit Tigers’ Prospect Pool Receives Immense Respect in Latest Rankings

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Detroit Tigers’ Prospect Pool Receives Immense Respect in Latest Rankings


Earlier this week, Baseball America released its new Top 100 prospect list for 2025, and five Detroit Tigers players made the list.

That’s an impressive haul that few teams could match. But, after the release of the Top 100, the site also released a list of every player from every team that received at least one vote for the Top 100.

The Tigers had an eye-popping 11 players receive at least one vote.

The five players that received enough votes to make the Top 100 where pitcher Jackson Jobe (No. 3), outfielder Max Clark (No. 22), infielder Kevin McGonigle (No. 23), shortstop Bryce Rainer (No. 60) and catcher Thayron Liranzo (No. 69).

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Who are the other six prospects? They included catcher Dillon Dingler, shortstop Franyerbrer Montilla, infielder Jace Jung, right-handed pitcher Jaden Hamm, catcher Josue Briceño and shortstop Trey Sweeney.

Three of those prospects are already in the Majors and figure to make the opening-day roster. Dingler reached the Majors in July and served as a backup catcher last season. He slashed .167/.195/.310/.505 with one home run and 11 RBI.

Sweeney was part of what the Tigers received in the Jack Flaherty trade, with Liranzo being the rest of the haul. He made his MLB debut in August and became the starting shortstop, where he slashed .218/.269/.373/.642 with four home runs and 17 RBI.

Jung was also called up by the Tigers in August to take over at third base. The 2022 first-round pick slashed .241/.362/.304/.665 in 34 games with the Tigers.

Hamm has quickly become a respected member of the prospect pipeline after he was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB draft out of Middle Tennessee. Last season at High-A West Michigan he went 5-4 with a 2.64 ERA in 24 games, as he struck out 122 and walked 31 in 99 innings.

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Briceño is a Venezuela native who is just 20 years old but already has three years of pro baseball under his belt. Injuries limited him to just 40 games at Class-A Lakeland, but he slashed .278/.381/.377/.758 with two home runs and 22 RBI. He also played in the Arizona Fall League.

Montilla, also from Venezuela, is just 19 years old and is coming off a 2024 season that ended at Lakeland in which he slashed .226/.374/.362/.736 with six home runs and 30 RBI.

Many of these prospects will be at spring training later this month.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Lakeland, Fla., on Feb. 12. The rest of the roster will report on Feb. 17. Detroit will open its spring training schedule with a home game against Philadelphia on Feb. 22 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.  



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