After a 20-year run calling broadcasts for the Los Angeles Angels, Jose Mota announced on Thursday that he will not return for the 2022 season.
In an Instagram post, Mota said that leaving was entirely his decision and it was time for a new chapter in his life. He expressed gratitude for the top broadcast position he had with the Angels, working as a second analyst on Bally Sports West telecasts with Mark Gubicza. And he spoke fondly of the moments he covered, including the Angels’ World Series championship in 2002 and Shohei Ohtani winning American League Most Valuable Player last season.
Mota began his broadcasting career with Fox in 1997 after retiring as an active player, calling Spanish-language telecasts for the network.
He joined the Angels as a broadcaster in 2002, calling Spanish-language broadcasts for five years before working English-language telecasts. He was the first Latin-born former player to be a full-time broadcaster for a Major League Baseball team. Mota filled a variety of broadcast roles in his 20 years with the organization, including play-by-play and analyst positions on radio and TV, calling games in both Spanish and English.
Mota also helped the Angels beyond the broadcast booth. When Vladimir Guerrero was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, Mota served as a translator during Guerrero’s press conference and subsequent media appearances. He also translated Guerrero’s speech when the outfielder was inducted into Cooperstown, the first to ever do so during Hall of Fame festivities.
In addition to his work with the Angels, Mota has appeared on national broadcasts for Fox and TBS, including the 2006 American League Championship Series, 2007 MLB All-Star Game, and the 2007 postseason. He also contributed video features and written articles for Yahoo Sports.
Mota’s departure is the latest of many changes among the Angels’ broadcast roster. Victor Rojas left as the team’s TV play-by-play broadcaster after the 2020 season. Secondary play-by-play announcer Daron Sutton was let go last July, replaced by Rich Waltz. But Waltz was told in January that he wouldn’t return for the 2022 season. Matt Vasgersian, who took over for Rojas as the main TV play-by-play voice for the team will take on a larger workload this year.
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
