NBC Sports California has named Jenny Kavnar the primary play-by-play announcer for its live game coverage of the Oakland Athletics, it was announced Tuesday.
The 20-year-old media veteran, who has 17 years of experience covering baseball, became the first female play-by-play voice in Major League Baseball history. She calls most of the A games.
For the past 12 years, Cavnar has served as a backup play-by-play announcer, pregame and postgame host and reporter for regional TV coverage of the Colorado Rockies. She became the first woman in a quarter-century to call television play-by-play for an MLB game in 2018 while covering the Rockies, and became the first woman to provide radio analysis for the National League Series in 2015. . She previously covered the San Diego Padres as a reporter and anchor for five years.
“Jenny is an extremely talented and experienced baseball announcer,” said Matt Murphy, president and general manager of NBC Sports California and NBC Sports Bay Area. “Throughout her career, she was a consummate professional who won the admiration of her fans and peers. We are excited about her joining our great team and leading our coverage of the A’s starting this season.
Cavnar is a regular contributor to MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM throughout the regular season and postseason. She also calls men’s and women’s college basketball on FS1 and the Pac 12 Networks. A five-time Emmy Award winner, Kavnar became the first woman to be named Colorado’s Female Sportscaster of the Year in 2021 by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).
“It’s a dream come true for the Oakland A’s and their rich baseball history to join the broadcast team,” Kavnar said. “Growing up the daughter of a baseball coach, I’ve loved the game since I was a child, the stories, history and relationships it provides. I am excited to begin my 18th season of major league broadcasting with my good friend Dallas Braden and share our experiences with the loyal fans of the Athletics as we journey together.
Kavnar has covered many other teams and sports as a reporter, anchor and host. She served as host covering the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, Olympic show coordinator and a contributing sideline reporter covering San Diego State University athletics for nearly five years.
A graduate of Colorado State University, where she was a member of the lacrosse team, Kavnar began her media career as an intern for KUSA/NBC 9 in Denver and as a sports reporter for a radio station in Fort Collins, Colo. in both sports media and lacrosse, including two seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA.