It’s been nearly a week since the boys of summer kicked off another season of Major League Baseball. The pageantry and excitement of the opening weekend are beginning to subside as teams settle into their routines and fans make the game a nightly ritual. Baseball has always been a passion for ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who grew up in Cleveland as the son of someone who worked at The Cleveland Plain Dealer for more than four decades.
Since graduating from Syracuse University, Passan has grown into one of the sport’s most recognizable voices. He carries the heart of a scribe with an ear to the ground for every transaction, injury, and headline that can change the perception of a season. Passan joined ESPN in January 2019 and has elevated through the ranks of the worldwide leader. Last month, he signed another multi-year extension to continue bringing baseball stories to ESPN’s audience.
“I got into this business to write stories. I love writing, and will always love writing,” said Passan. “It’s a great challenge to get at the heart of a story. Plus do so in a way that allows you to still be creative in telling it. Going to ESPN, all these different avenues to show that creativity were new [to me].”
After spending 13 years at Yahoo Sports, Passan always aligned himself with the outlet synonymous with sports. Once he joined ESPN, he found himself immersed not in the usual day-to-day grind but in a wide range of opportunities to expand his horizons. From television appearances to assisting with documentaries that earned him a Sports Emmy.
Staying With ESPN
When his contract was nearing expiration, Passan said his focus remained on where he could tell the best stories in baseball.
“ESPN is that place. They care so much about this, and are willing to devote the resources and the energy that other places still can’t match,” notes Passan. “There’s a gravitas that comes with ESPN. The media economy has become bifurcated, that’s not a bad thing. I like that there are many ways that people can go about doing this. But for me, ESPN, regardless of the rights we have, we’re still the best. We still do this better than anyone else, with the best people.”
The past year for ESPN and Major League Baseball has been an interesting one. Before the 2025 season, the network and the league mutually agreed to opt out of their media rights agreement with three years remaining. That decision led to a summer of intrigue as the two sides traded words both on and off the record before ultimately agreeing to a new deal in November.
Passan, who says Baseball Tonight on ESPN was the show of his childhood, always believed the two sides would find common ground, ensuring ESPN’s long-standing relationship with the sport.
“ESPN is vital to any sport that cares about its relevancy,” said Passan. “The notion of Major League Baseball and ESPN not being partners was problematic for the league. The league recognized that too… When it comes to media networks, ESPN is still the place that is synonymous with sports. Major League Baseball is the kind of sport that deserves to have a platform like ESPN putting its content out to the world.”
Under the new rights agreement, ESPN lost its heritage broadcasts of Sunday Night Baseball and the MLB Home Run Derby and did not secure postseason games. However, the network did gain rights to MLB.TV, which is now available through ESPN’s direct-to-consumer app.
Playing To Your Strengths
Additionally, ESPN will air 30 exclusive national broadcasts, many during the summer months and primarily on weekdays. Passan has contributed to several MLB broadcasts, including on-field work during the Home Run Derby. However, during his contract discussions, expanding that role never became a focal point.
“There are parts of what I do where I’m very confident that I can do a great job. In terms of what I’m not quite as good at, I don’t think, is that role,” explained Passan. “As much as that role allows you to do some storytelling and some reporting, it’s a little more limited by its nature.”
Passan admitted his work during the Home Run Derby was “terrifying,” with a live microphone echoing throughout the stadium during player interactions. While he considers the experience a success, he believes others are better suited for that role.
“I always want to acknowledge my strengths and my weaknesses. I’m not in pursuit of things that might benefit others more,” said Passan. “I work with a lot of good people. Plus, I find as much joy seeing others filling that role as I would get personally.”
New Podcast
One element of his recent extension includes hosting a new baseball-centric podcast for ESPN in partnership with Omaha Productions. This marks his first opportunity as a lead podcast host. Since signing the deal, he has worked closely with Omaha Productions to develop a show centered on in-depth conversations with figures who can illuminate different aspects of the game.
Beyond storytelling, Passan hopes the podcast will feel distinct, built on his insider perspective.
“There’s a real vacuum for great baseball podcasts out there. There are a few of them. But I think there’s a real opportunity for this to be the kind of show that people tune into on a weekly basis,” said Passan.
While the debut date has yet to be announced, the podcast already has a name that also has not been publicly revealed. Passan says he is approaching the project like a teacher addressing a class. A profession he hopes to pursue after retiring from baseball coverage.
“Baseball can be a complicated sport. There’s a lot of arcane little angles to it with terminology and strategy that can be tough to understand. I want to de-mystify all that with this podcast,” said Passan. “The easiest way to do that is to talk to the people who actually do it. To be their translator. Be the person who helps bring them to a point of explaining things while serving as the megaphone to the world. The podcast format is perfect for that.”
The podcast is Passan’s latest venture, adding to an already full workload at ESPN. In preparation, he has leaned on conversations with colleagues like Mina Kimes and Brian Windhorst. Both of whom balance successful podcasts with demanding reporting roles.
The Toll Of Being An Insider
Passan describes the insider role as unrelenting—a job with no off switch that requires constant engagement. Despite balancing his career with family life, he says he has never felt burned out.
“You have to have ‘motor’ to do this job. If you don’t, it will eat you up. I’m very fortunate to be able to function on much less sleep than others,” said Passan. “If I ever get to a point that the job is too much and I can’t keep the pace of it, that will be the day that I pull a ‘Woj.’ That’s how I will know.”
The “Woj” reference points to former ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, who stepped away from his role in 2024, citing the demands of the job. Passan expressed deep respect for that decision.
“He’s the best, and I love that he did what he did. This job can eat away at you. If you don’t feel like you’re fully invested in it, then you should stop,” said Passan.
What continues to drive Passan is the impact his work can have. A single report can shape how fans feel about their team or season.
“It’s an awesome job. It’s a privilege to do what I do,” said Passan. “People are so incredibly passionate about sports. When an alert of mine hits their phone, and it has to do with their team, it has the ability to make or break their day. There’s an immense amount of power in that. Not power to be used the wrong way, but power in knowing you can have a real, tangible effect on a stranger’s day. That is so cool that I have been a small part of seminal moments in people’s lives.”
Looming MLB Work Stoppage
With the regular season underway, Passan’s workload has intensified, delivering updates and storylines at a pace baseball fans have come to expect. He believes the sport is in a strong position following the success of the World Baseball Classic.
However, the current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players association expires in December, creating a backdrop of uncertainty.
“December 1 is going to be the guillotine that’s hanging over this season. It’s impossible to separate the two, because there is so much good that’s going on in baseball right now,” explained Passan.
Since joining ESPN, Passan has increased his appearances across the network. He is a frequent guest on The Pat McAfee Show and has engaged in more discussions about baseball with Stephen A. Smith. He believes the growing attention from prominent voices is helping introduce the sport to new audiences.
Still, he cautions against any potential labor stoppage.
“I look at this as a business problem. Business problems are nothing but math problems. The math problem in this situation tells me that they [MLB owners] have way more to lose than what they have to gain,” said Passan. “I am not confident because I’ve learned covering professional sports and labor that logic doesn’t always apply. But until I see otherwise, I’m going to apply logic to this. Logic tells me that a work stoppage where games are lost would be catastrophic to Major League Baseball, and that everyone involved knows better than to do that.”
In a sport built on rhythm, patience, and the long view, Jeff Passan has carved out a role that mirrors the game itself—steady, relentless, and always searching for meaning beneath the surface.
As Major League Baseball navigates both momentum and uncertainty, and as ESPN continues to redefine how the game reaches fans, Passan remains at the center of it all—not chasing the spotlight, but chasing the story.
As long as baseball continues to evolve, so too will the voice helping fans understand it, one headline at a time.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
