Ben Shulman has been named the new radio play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays, Sportsnet recently announced in a press release. Shulman’s responsibilities will begin in spring training as the team looks to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season and win its first World Series championship since 1993. He will step into the role for Ben Wagner, who was relieved of his responsibilities upon the expiration of his contract with Sportsnet.
Shulman made his Blue Jays broadcasting debut in 2022 when he filled in for Ben Wagner on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. The Syracuse University graduate worked alongside analyst Ben Nicholson-Smith for a series against the Los Angeles Angels and expressed his gratitude for the chance in a message posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. Shulman will now slot into the role on a full-time basis for the 2024 season and will be paired with analyst Chris Leroux. The radio team is expected to call its road games remotely, according to a report by the Toronto Sun.
“I can’t thank the people at Sportsnet enough,” Shulman said in a statement on X. “While many imagined hitting that big homer as a kid, this was my biggest dream, partly due to my crippling athleticism. SN made my dream a reality, and I hope to bring some of that excited kid on the air. Hope to see you there!”
Shulman’s father, Dan, will be back as the lead television play-by-play voice for the team and is slated to work alongside analysts Buck Martinez and Joe Siddall. Dan Shulman has been in the television play-by-play role for Sportsnet since 2016 and previously called Blue Jays games on The Sports Network in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Additionally, he is the former play-by-play voice of various marquee baseball properties for ESPN, most recently Sunday Night Baseball from 2011 until 2017.
“It is very special for me to have Ben going into the same field I’m in,” Dan Shulman wrote in an email to Sportsnet. “I really enjoy following his progress, and it’s fun to talk about things we’ve both experienced. Hopefully, he doesn’t mind old Dad poking his nose in every now and again :)”
Outside of his fill-in work with the Blue Jays, Ben Shulman was part of the broadcast team for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the High-A Midwest League and Raptors 905 of the NBA G-League. Previous stops in his career include stints with the Barrie Baycats and Chatham Anglers baseball teams outside of the Minor League Baseball jurisdiction. He has called NCAA basketball games over the years as well.
