Cincinnati Reds: Three possible replacements for Thom Brennaman

3. Dan Hoard, Current Bengals play-by-play radio broadcaster

Dan Hoard is no stranger to baseball. In fact, that’s where he got his start. Hoard, a graduate of Syracuse University, was the play-by-play broadcaster for the Syracuse Chiefs, now known as the Syracuse Mets of the International League. Could the Reds pry Hoard away from his current gig as the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals?

You have to admit, a booth shared by Chris Welsh would be much quieter than one shared by Bengals color analyst Dave Lapham. All joking aside, it’d be an absolute treat if the Cincinnati Reds were able to persuade Hoard to join the television broadcast. But, that seems like a tall task.

Hoard not only is the Bengals play-by-play announcer, he does the same for University of Cincinnati football and men’s basketball. Hoard is busy man. Several years ago, Hoard did the pregame show for the Reds before heading up to Massachusetts to become the Pawtucket Red Sox play-by-play broadcaster.

In 2011, however, Dan Hoard returned to Cincinnati to replace Brad Johansen as the voice of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. I’d have to squint pretty hard to see Hoard leave a sweet gig, one in which he only has to occupy the radio booth for 16 games per year, in order to join the Reds for 162 games from March through September. It’s unlikely, but the Reds should still give it a shot.