Connor Onion is a play-by-play broadcaster who has worked for the Big 10 Network since 2021 and has called college football, basketball, baseball and volleyball for the network. He has also done college football, basketball and baseball for ESPN. You can follow Connor on X at @ConnorOnion. Connor recently called his first Major League Baseball game on FS1 and shared his story for today’s guest column:
“¿Cómo estás, papi?”
When I unlocked the passenger door of my 2004 Chevy Suburban, those were the first words I heard from the stranger, a towering man, who climbed in next to me. It was May 15, 2017. I was a broadcasting intern for the Quad Cities River Bandits, the Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros in Davenport, Iowa.
This was the “other duties as assigned” part of the job. Yes, I called games. But I also was responsible for dropping off and picking up the players at the airport when they were promoted or demoted from our team. The man sitting shotgun was, at the time, a little-known prospect. His name is Yordan Alvarez.
When Alvarez met me with that warm greeting that sunny Midwest morning, I had no idea we were in for a month-long joyride. Alvarez socked nine homers in the only month he needed at that level of Minor League Baseball. One of his homers landed in the river beyond the right field wall.
Almost two years to the day of our car ride from the airport, Alvarez debuted in the big leagues for the Astros. He’s become American League Rookie of the Year, a World Series champion & a perennial All Star. I watched Alvarez in awe from minor league cities like Clinton, Iowa, Beloit, Wisconsin & Florence, Kentucky, working & hoping to one day join him in “The Show.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Connor, you’re getting called up to the big leagues.”
It’s late at night in the Spring of 2024. It’s my agent on the phone, doing his best impression of a Triple-A Manager promoting a prospect.
A cheek-to-cheek smile filled my face as I shared the news with my girlfriend, Danielle. She cried, maybe subconsciously knowing her sacrifice – five years of long distance, weekends away and holidays apart – made this opportunity possible.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Let 10-year-old Connor soak it all in for a couple seconds.”
It’s Saturday, April 13, 2024. I’m in the car on the way to Minute Maid Park as those words come across my phone, a text from one of my best friends. It was a great reminder as I prepared to make my Major League Baseball Broadcasting debut, calling Rangers vs. Astros on FS1 with A.J. Pierzynski and Ken Rosenthal.
But, before I could “soak it all in”, there was work to do. A closed-door meeting with Astros Manager Joe Espada, where Alex Bregman unknowingly interrupted by banging on the door, begging to be put in the lineup that day.
A breezy 20 minutes spent with Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy, where the game’s best bullpen manager shared with us his day-to-day stresses handling an increasingly injured pitching staff.
A quick exchange with Jose Altuve, who welcomed me to the Astros clubhouse with a handshake that felt like it came from a person twice his height.
As the clock ticked toward first pitch, there was adrenaline, but I was at ease. Why? The people who believed in me.
Jake Levy gave me my first job in Quad Cities. Joe Brand — a Major League announcer in his own right — made me better every day during our time calling games together in Kane County. Terry Bonadonna – a caring, creative boss – allowed me to be a “lead voice” for the first time in professional baseball.
Those three, and the hundreds more, who helped me were the reason I could “soak it all in” as my producer said, “30 seconds to air.”
For the next three hours, we did what we came to do. We debated intentionally walking Corey Seager and applauded Jose Altuve’s superior strength when breaking the game open with a double. We busted each other’s chops on whether we read or watched Harry Potter.
It was a day “10-year-old Connor” couldn’t believe.
It was a day “2017 Intern Connor” could only dream possible when “2024 Connor” said on the FOX broadcast, “batting second and playing left field for the Astros, Yordan Alvarez.”
“Estoy agradecida, papi. Estoy agradecida.”
I am grateful.
