NBC Sports California has named Jenny Cavnar the primary play-by-play announcer for its live-game coverage of the Oakland Athletics, it was announced Tuesday.
The 20-year media veteran, who has 17 years of experience covering baseball, becomes the first female primary play-by-play voice in Major League Baseball history. She will call a majority of A’s games.
For the past 12 years, Cavnar has served as a backup play-by-play announcer, pregame and postgame host, and reporter for regional TV coverage of the Colorado Rockies. During her tenure covering the Rockies, she became the first woman in a quarter century to call TV play-by-play for an MLB game in 2018, and in 2015, she was the first woman to provide analysis for a National League series on radio. She previously covered the San Diego Padres for nearly five years as a reporter and anchor.
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“Jenny is a very talented announcer with significant experience covering baseball,” said Matt Murphy, President and General Manager of NBC Sports California and NBC Sports Bay Area. “She’s been a groundbreaking professional who’s earned the admiration of fans and her peers throughout her career. We’re very excited for her to join our excellent team and lead our A’s coverage starting this season.”
Cavnar also is a regular contributor to MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM throughout the regular season and postseason. She also calls men’s and women’s college basketball on FS1 and Pac 12 Networks. A five-time Emmy Award recipient, Cavnar became the first woman to be named Colorado Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA) in 2021.
“It is a dream come true to join the broadcast team for the Oakland A’s and their rich baseball history,” Cavnar said. “Growing up the daughter of a baseball coach, I have loved the game from a young age, along with the stories, history and relationships the game provides. I’m excited to start my 18th season as a major league broadcaster with my good friend, Dallas Braden, and share our experiences with the loyal fans of the Athletics as we go on this ride together.”
Cavnar has covered several other teams and sports as a reporter, anchor and host. She has served as a host covering the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, co-hosted an Olympics show and spent nearly five years as a sideline reporter and show contributor covering San Diego State University athletics.
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A graduate of Colorado State University, where she was a member of the lacrosse team, Cavnar began her media career as an intern for Denver’s KUSA / NBC 9 and as a sports reporter for a radio station in Fort Collins, Colo. She subsequently held roles in both sports media and lacrosse, including as an assistant coach at UCLA for two seasons.