Cincinnati Reds: Three possible replacements for Thom Brennaman

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – AUGUST 15: An exterior view of Great American Ball Park the venue for the Cincinnati Reds(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

The Reds may be looking for a new play-by-play announcer to replace Thom Brennaman.

I’m not here to get into the specifics of what was said by Cincinnati Reds play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman during last night’s broadcast. Brennaman apologized for his comments and left the broadcast midway through last night’s game. The Reds indefinitely suspended Brennaman and it appears as though changes may be coming in the Reds television booth.

Thom Brennaman, son of Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman, has been the voice of the Reds television broadcast for the past 14 years. Previously, the younger Brennaman had worked in the broadcast booth for the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks before coming home to Cincinnati in October of 2006.

Brennaman has also been part of nationally televised baseball games on FOX Sports and broadcasts NFL games for FOX during football season. Brennaman, however, has spent the majority of the past five years exclusively with the Reds outside of a few NFL games on Sunday’s during the fall.

Despite Brennaman’s apology, it’s a good bet that the 56-year-old will no longer be broadcasting games for the Cincinnati Reds. The team issued a statement last night, saying that they’d be addressing the broadcast team in the coming days. So, if Brennaman’s time in Cincinnati is over, who should replace him in the Reds television booth alongside Chris Welsh?

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 02: A detailed view of a FOX Sports TV camera during game two of a doubleheader between the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

1. Jim Day, Reds television personality and host of the Jim Day Podcast

The first person who comes to mind is Jim Day. How many fans can’t enough of the back and forth banter between Day and Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez? “Enjoy your day, Jim Day.” We’ve also seen Joey Votto have a Gym Day with Jim Day. If anybody has put in the work and deserves a shot, it’s Jim Day.

Believe it or not, Day has been with Fox Sports Ohio since 2000. Day routinely hosts “Reds Live”, the pregame and postgame show before and after each Reds game. In 2011, Day began to try his hand in the broadcast booth, doing play-by-play alongside the crafty left-hander Chris Welsh. We’ve also heard Day a few times as the radio play-by-play voice of the Reds as well.

After Thom Brennaman was removed from the air last night, it was Jim Day who took the reins and finished the final few innings of the doubleheader between Cincinnati and Kansas City. Day will be filling in for Brennaman during the team’s upcoming four-game series agains the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jim Day is also the host of the wildly-successful Jim Day Podcast. If you haven’t yet tuned in, you’re missing out. Day has hosted such guests as Sean Casey, Joey Votto, Nick Senzel, Amir Garrett and Rob Dibble. Jim Day would be the most obvious choice is succeed Brennaman in the television booth.

DETROIT, MI – MAY 23: Detailed view as a Fox Sports reporter holds a microphone. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Jim Kelch, Former Reds radio broadcaster

Many fans will remember Jim Kelch from his days in the Cincinnati Reds radio booth from 2008-2017. Kelch is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and has a plethora of experience behind the microphone. If the Reds wanted a reliable, professional voice to replace Brennaman, you won’t find many better than Jim Kelch.

Kelch did not begin his career with the Cincinnati Reds. In fact, Kelch worked his way up through the minors just like several players have done. Kelch was part of the broadcast team for Peoria Chiefs, Chattanooga Lookouts and the long-time radio voice of the Triple-A Louisville Bats. Kelch also called games for the University of Louisville football team and men’s basketball.

Kelch is a skilled orator who currently is broadcasting for the Northern Kentucky University Norse men’s basketball team. Becoming a full member of the Division-I college basketball circuit during the 2016-17 season, Kelch was on mic when the Norse made the NCAA Tournament during their first year of eligibility.

I think the majority of Reds Country would be ecstatic to have Jim Kelch back in the Queen City. Kelch replaced longtime Fox Sports personality George Grande several years ago, perhaps he’ll get a second chance to prove that he belongs in the big leagues. Kelch would be another fine choice to replace Thom Brennaman.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 22: A detailed view of a Cincinnati Bengals helmet. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

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.

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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.

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