Home - Josh Whetzel - Male Broadcast Talent

Bio

Whetzel is the award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Rochester Red Wings (the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals) and the University at Buffalo men’s basketball team. The website BallparkDigest.com named Whetzel the 2015 Minor League Broadcaster of the Year. Prior to coming to Rochester, Whetzel spent three years as the play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets’ Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Mets, from 2000-2002. He was also the primary radio broadcaster for the Carolina League’s Kinston (NC) Indians from 1996-1999 after beginning his professional career in the South Atlantic League in 1995 with the Albany (GA) Polecats.

While serving as a fill-in announcer for the Minnesota Twins, Whetzel had a chance to be a part of baseball history when he called the September 19, 2011 game at Yankee Stadium in which Mariano Rivera set the all-time saves record.

Whetzel handled the national radio broadcast for the 2009 Triple-A All Star Game from Portland, OR. He also called the play-by-play for the 1995 South Atlantic League All Star Game and the 1998 Carolina League All Star Game. The Rochester Press Radio Club honored Whetzel with the Gary Smith Award for Broadcasting Excellence in 2007.

Since 2006, Whetzel has spent his baseball offseason as the radio broadcaster for the University at Buffalo men’s basketball team in the Mid American Conference.

Whetzel, whose uncle Hut pitched professionally in the Dodgers organization, is a native of Parsons, Kansas and is a graduate of the University of Kansas.

Audio

Endorsements

I think Josh Whetzel is ready for a major league opportunity. I've listened to his play by play for several years, beginning when he first started working in the minor leagues. I have always found Josh to be dedicated, prepared and professional. He is a good guy who would fit in with any organization. And, I really like his work. He follows the action well and has a major league sound. I think Josh's time has come and I recommend him highly. He is a major league announcer who just needs a chance!

Ken Korach

Oakland Athletics Broadcaster

Josh Whetzel is a big league announcer who just needs a break. Stephen Strasburg got called up. So should Josh. He's polished, knowledgeable, fun to listen to. And you won't have to shut him down in September.

Ken Levine

Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners Broadcaster

It’s very easy to tell by listening to his tape that Josh has an awesome voice and feel for the game of baseball. What you may not know is just how dialed-in Josh is regarding his team. Any time Rochester came to Syracuse or vice versa, Josh told me something—or some things—that nobody else would know about the Red Wings players except the players themselves. Josh is a superb, detailed announcer that should be in the majors. It’s nonsense that he isn’t.

Jason Benetti

Detroit Tigers/Fox Sports Broadcaster

Josh possesses the key attribute of a fine baseball broadcaster: painting a word picture that brings the game alive for the listener. He contributes insight while at the same time personalizing players. His terrific voice and conversational style have made him extremely popular -- a worthy successor to such former Rochester Red Wings Voices as Jack Buck, Lanny Frattare, and Josh Lewin. I have gotten to know Josh personally during his time here in Rochester. As I write in "Voices of The Game," unlike some young broadcasters who grow up idolizing ESPN SportsCenter-type personalities, Josh grasps what works for baseball on the air: the game comes first, abetted by his winning style. While we would miss Josh’s presence on the local airwaves here, Rochester's loss would be a major league team's gain. Again, I recommend him very highly to broadcast for any big-league baseball team.

Curt Smith

Baseball Broadcast Historian