The Tampa Bay Rays are still mourning the loss of veteran radio play-by-play announcer Dave Wills, but with the 2023 season less than two weeks away the team needed to find a replacement.
On Thursday, the Rays announced that Neil Solondz will be promoted to play-by-play. Solondz has been the team’s pre-game and post-game host and producer of This Week in Rays Baseball for the last 11 seasons.
Solondz will call games alongside Andy Freed, who was opposite Wills the last 18 years.
“Dave and Andy have built an incredible tradition with Tampa Bay Rays fans on air and in the community,” Solondz said. “I’m humbled and honored to join Andy in the booth. While no one can ever replace Dave, the best way to honor his legacy is to continue to share the game with the fans who love it as much as we do.”
The Rays open the 2023 season on March 30.
