For series against Cardinals, the Royals have recalled the Class AAA ... broadcaster
Broadcaster Jake Eisenberg may pull off a first in baseball history.
Eisenberg, the radio voice of the Royals’ Class AAA affiliate in Omaha, called Sunday’s Storm Chasers game against Toledo. Catcher MJ Melendez was pulled early from that game after going 1 for 3.
Melendez was then recalled by the Royals after an injury to backup catcher Cam Gallagher, and he made his Major League Baseball debut Tuesday against the Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium.
Calling the game was Eisenberg, who was tabbed by the Royals Radio Network to fill in on the broadcast for the two-game series against the Cardinals.
Denny Matthews, Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart are all out because of illness. So Eisenberg will be joined by Royals Hall of Famer Mike Sweeney to call the games against St. Louis.
“I’m thrilled. I’m grateful that they’ve trusted me to fill in,” Eisenberg said. “The fact that I get to see a lot of the people that were in Omaha last year and are here now and to see them succeed the way they have, and shine the way they have, and get to watch them in person here in Kauffman Stadium, that’s awesome.”
Eisenberg gets the rare opportunity to watch a player take part in consecutive games at Class AAA and then the majors.
But it’s not just Melendez that he’s eager to watch.
“You know that everybody in Omaha is gonna be glued to their TVs, watching MJ’s debut tonight and then also seeing Bobby (Witt) and Nicky (Lopez) and Whit (Merrifield) and everybody because they’re all so supportive of everybody,” said Eisenberg, who also works as a fill-in for the New York Mets.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 5:58 PM.
