Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, Barry Bonds to join MLB opening night on Netflix as on-air talent; Madelyn Burke joins ESPN as newest anchor for SportsCenter; and more.
Madelyn Burke joins ESPN as a SportsCenter Anchor
Television host Madelyn Burke has joined ESPN as an anchor for SportsCenter, the company’s signature news and information program. She will begin work in April.
For nearly a decade, Burke has been a multi-platform host and on-air talent covering the New York Giants, most recently with MSG Network and Giants.com, while also hosting for CBS Sports HQ. In her role, she has contributed across studio, digital and live game coverage, including hosting pregame and postgame programming and sideline reporting.
“I’m thrilled and honored to join ESPN, and to be a part of a program as iconic as SportsCenter,” said Burke. “It’s a show that has meant so much to me and to generations of sports fans.
“I’m excited to help carry that tradition forward while bringing energy, joy, and a genuine love of sports to every show.”
A native of Los Angeles, Burke began her career while attending Arizona State University, where she graduated with a degree in journalism and hosted the nationally televised college football show Running with the PAC on FOX. She went on to cover college football and the NBA across multiple platforms, including time on the Los Angeles Clippers beat and at Sports Illustrated.
“Madelyn is a versatile and dynamic storyteller who brings credibility, energy and a deep understanding of sports to everything she does,” said Mike Foss, Senior Vice President, Sports & Studio Entertainment. “Her experience across multiple platforms and connection with fans make her a great addition to SportsCenter.”
Burke will be based at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT.
Barry Bonds Added to MLB Opening Night Talent Roster
A baseball legend has officially entered the batter’s box for Netflix.
San Francisco Giants great Barry Bonds joins the star-studded roster of on-air talent for Netflix’s Major League Baseball broadcasts this season. The league’s home run king and leader will make his debut as an analyst on March 25, when his former club hosts the New York Yankees for MLB Opening Night, presented by Adobe.
A seven-time Most Valuable Player, Bonds will take part in all three of Netflix’s MLB broadcasts this year: Opening Night, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 13, and MLB at Field of Dreams on Aug. 13, all live exclusively on Netflix. Bonds will team up with two-time World Series champion and three-time MVP Albert Pujols, World Series champion Anthony Rizzo, and Emmy Award–winning host Elle Duncan at the pre- and postgame desk.
Orel Hershiser, Luis Gonzalez, Al Leiter, and Neil Walker Named Analysts for NBC Sports’ MLB Opening Day Doubleheader: Pirates-Mets at 1 PM ET and Diamondbacks-Dodgers at 8 PM ET, Next Thurs., March 26 on NBC & Peacock
NBC Sports announces its MLB Opening Day game and pregame analysts, one week ahead of its 2026 season debut featuring two games next Thursday, March 26.
NBC Sports’ star-studded Opening Day presented by Adobe doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, as reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates visit Juan Soto and the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Then at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, in the only primetime game on Opening Day, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks face four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani and the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
NBC Sports’ announce teams for MLB Opening Day are as follows:
Pirates vs. Mets – 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
Play-by-play voice Matt Vasgersian calls Pirates-Mets alongside analysts Al Leiter and Neil Walker.
A two-time All-Star with two World Series rings, Leiter pitched 19 MLB seasons, including seven with the Mets (1998-2004). With the Mets in 2000, he won The Roberto Clemente Award which annually honors the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. Leiter has been a studio analyst with MLB Network since 2009 (earning a Sports Emmy nomination) and previously served as game analyst for 12 seasons with YES Network.
The 2014 NL Silver Slugger as the Pirates second baseman, Walker’s 12-year MLB career (2009-2020) included his first seven seasons in Pittsburgh, followed by two years with the Mets (2016-17). Since 2021, Walker has served as an analyst for the Pirates broadcast team.
Ahmed Fareed will host pregame coverage alongside analyst Adam Ottavino,who pitched in 727 games for five teams in 15 MLB seasons (2010, 2012-25), including 2022-24 with the Mets.
Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers – 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
Jason Benetti handles play-by-play, joined by analysts and World Series heroes Luis Gonzalez and Orel Hershiser.
Gonzalez, a five-time All-Star, played 19 MLB seasons (1990-2008), highlighted by eight years with the Diamondbacks. In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Gonzalez hit the game-winning single as Arizona won its first championship. The Fall Classic heroics capped his best statistical season as he won the Silver Slugger with a .325 batting average, 57 home runs and 142 RBI. An analyst for select Diamondbacks games, Gonzalez won the 2005 Branch Rickey Award for community service.
Hershiser’s 18-year MLB career was headlined by his 1988 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He posted an MLB-high 23 victories, pitched a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings, and won the NL Cy Young Award, NLCS MVP, and World Series MVP as the Dodgers won their first championship in seven years. Hershiser pitched 12 seasons for the Dodgers, and three seasons for Cleveland, where he won ALCS MVP honors in leading the team to the 1995 World Series. Hershiser has worked as the primary analyst for SportsNet LA’s broadcasts of Dodgers games since 2017.
Host Bob Costas will be joined by analyst and three-time Dodgers’ NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw for an on-location pregame show at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers will raise their World Series championship banner.
Peacock “Game of the Day” (March 26-April 1)
One out-of-market game will be streamed nationally* on Peacock each day of the season, beginning Thursday, March 26, with 11-time All-Star Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels visiting Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros at 4:10 p.m. ET on Peacock. The Peacock “Game of the Day” will allow viewers to watch either the home or visiting team presentation.
ESPN Signs Fernando Palomo to Multiyear Contract Extension
ESPN has signed Fernando Palomo a new multi-year contract, keeping one of its most recognizable voices in soccer broadcasting on the network. Palomo, who joined ESPN in 2000, will continue to serve as the lead Spanish play-by-play voice for the company’s exclusive coverage of LALIGA in the U.S., and a prominent voice across international soccer coverage in Spanish and English.
Kicking off his renewed agreement, Palomo will be in Madrid on Sunday, March 22, to call the highly anticipated Madrid derby – Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid at 4 p.m. ET – live on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (Spanish), further highlighting his role at the center of key soccer events.
In addition to covering marquee matchups, Palomo will continue to host and contribute to Spanish studio programming across ESPN Deportes in the U.S. and ESPN in Latin America, including ESPN FC, Futbol Center, SportsCenter, and more. He will remain a staple in ESPN’s Olympic Games coverage.
“Fernando is unlike anyone else in our industry,” said Rodolfo Martinez, Senior Vice President, International and ESPN Deportes Production. “He joined ESPN more than 25 years ago as a SportsCenter anchor in Latin America and has grown into one of the most trusted, versatile and recognizable voices in soccer across two continents and two languages. Fernando’s journey with us reflects exactly the kind of talent and commitment ESPN is built on, and we are proud that this story continues.”
“I am grateful to keep growing at the place that welcomed me in 2000,” said Palomo. “My excitement walking onto campus is the same today as it was on day one.”
A signature voice for LALIGA and international soccer
In addition to his role as ESPN’s signature Spanish-language voice for LALIGA in the United States, Palomo has, over the years, commentated on UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Serie A, LALIGA, and World Cup qualifying matches, and more. He is among the first prominent Spanish-language soccer voices to also call play-by-play in English for U.S. audiences. He served as one of ESPN’s English-language play-by-play commentators at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He continues to call select matches in English, uniquely serving bilingual audiences across ESPN platforms.
Across Latin America, Palomo is ESPN’s lead Spanish-language play-by-play voice for UEFA Champions League, a role that has placed him at the booth for more than 14 Champions League Finals and made him one of the most recognized voices in the sport in Latin America North and Central America. He is also the lead Spanish voice for the UEFA Women’s Champions League in the United States, and the men’s and women’s CONCACAF Gold Cup in Latin America.
Host and contributor to ESPN signature soccer studio programming
Palomo’s versatility across different on-air roles – play-by-play commentator, studio host and anchor, and reporter – has earned him critical acclaim. He helmed the popular Fuera de Juego (now Spanish ESPN FC) through several Sports Emmy nominations (Spanish) and is a regular contributor across ESPN Deportes and ESPN’s daily international soccer studio programming since 2006, including Ahora o Nunca, ESPN FC, Futbol Center, and SportsCenter.
A fixture at the Olympic Games
Palomo has been part of ESPN’s Olympic Games coverage for nearly two decades. He contributed to ESPN Deportes’ coverage of the Pan American Games in 2007, 2011 and 2015, and to ESPN’s presentation of the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Latin America. He also contributes to news and information coverage of the Olympic Games for ESPN and ESPN Deportes. He will continue in that capacity under the new agreement.
Gold Glove Award Winner Kevin Kiermaier Joins MLB Network
MLB Network announces that four-time Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder Kevin Kiermaier has joined MLB Network as an on-air analyst appearing across its studio programming. Kiermaier, who retired from the game following the 2024 season after a 13-year career, will make his season debut on the Emmy Award-winning MLB Tonight presented by Adobe following Major League Baseball’s Opening Night between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, March 25th, alongside Adnan Virk and Chris Young. Following Opening Night, Kiermaier will join the Emmy Award-nominated MLB Central (10 a.m. ET) and the Emmy Award-nominated MLB Now (12 p.m. ET) on Opening Day on Thursday, March 26th. Kiermaier will also bring his insight on MLB Tonight: National Pregame Show (5 p.m. ET) alongside Greg Amsinger, Dan Plesac and Harold Reynolds on Friday, March 27th.
“Joining MLB Network is a very exciting next step for me,” said Kiermaier. “I’ve always loved studying the game, especially on the defensive side, and this role gives me the chance to share everything I’ve learned over my career. I’m looking forward to highlighting parts of the game that don’t always show up in the box score but make a real impact on the field.” Kiermaier joined as a guest analyst this past February, appearing on a variety of MLB Network’s studio shows.
“Kevin Kiermaier was one of the most well-liked teammates over the course of his career and we can’t wait to have him in our studio talking about the game he loves,” said MLB Network Senior Vice President of Production Marc Caiafa. “His play on the field speaks for itself, and we can’t wait for him to pass on his own field knowledge to the viewers at home.”
Kiermaier’s career began with being selected in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Parkland College by the Tampa Bay Rays. He made his Major League debut on September 30th, 2013, where he quickly became one of the game’s top defensive center fielders. Over a 13-season MLB career, Kiermaier spent 10 seasons with the Rays (2013-2022) before joining the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2023-2024 seasons and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024. A 2024 World Series champion with the Dodgers, four-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2015 Platinum Glove Award recipient, Kiermaier concluded his career with 905 career hits, 499 runs scored, 378 RBIs, and 132 stolen bases across 1,159 games.
In addition to his new role with MLB Network, Kiermaier was recently hired as a consultant to work with Tampa Bay’s outfielders, joining the team in Spring Training. Viewers can follow Kiermaier on X via @KKiermaier39. MLB Network most recently announced that World Series champion Eric Hosmer has joined MLB Network as an on-air analyst.