Joe Buck will handle play-by-play for ESPN's first MLB game of the season, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Mets on April 15. This assignment marks his second straight year in that role. Buck announced the news during an appearance on SI Media with Jimmy Traina.
Joe Buck, the veteran broadcaster, is set to call the Los Angeles Dodgers versus New York Mets matchup on April 15, serving as ESPN's opening game of the MLB regular season. This continues a trend, as Buck took on the same duty last year—his first nationally televised baseball game since leaving Fox in 2021 for a multiyear deal with ESPN to cover Monday Night Football.
Despite ESPN's agreement with Major League Baseball to broadcast 30 regular-season games, Buck's schedule appears limited to this single contest. He recently returned to MLB calling alongside Chip Caray in the St. Louis Cardinals booth during 2024. Both broadcasters hail from notable lineages: Buck worked with his father, Jack Buck, on Cardinals radio and TV from 1991 to 2007, while Caray's father was also a prominent voice in sports.
At 56, Buck explained his preference for early-season games, noting they allow better preparation after his four-year hiatus from baseball. "For someone who hasn’t been involved in the game for four years, and I did Opening Day last year, I think it’s easier to launch off the beginning of the season because it’s not looking back," he told Traina.
Buck anticipates an engaging broadcast, given the teams involved. The Dodgers, back-to-back World Series champions, offer familiar star power. "It’s a Dodger game, I think it’s Dodger-Mets so, there’s a lot to talk about. I mean, I could probably do it right now. The Dodgers, half their lineup’s going to end up in the Hall of Fame. They’re easy names," Buck said.
While open to more games later, including playoffs, Buck acknowledged the difficulty without extensive catch-up. Before his break, he was Fox's lead MLB play-by-play announcer from 1996 to 2021, covering 23 World Series and 21 All-Star Games—records for network television. In recognition of his career, Buck will receive the 2026 Ford C. Frick Award, making him and his father the first father-son duo to earn the honor for contributions to baseball broadcasting.