Jason Benetti Named Lead Voice for NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball

MLB is set to make a triumphant return to NBC and Peacock in the 2026 season, and fans will be treated to the familiar voice of Jason Benetti, who has been named the lead play-by-play announcer for Sunday Night Baseball. This exciting announcement was made on Wednesday, marking a new chapter for the iconic baseball program.

Benetti, an award-winning broadcaster, is no stranger to the NBC family. Currently the primary TV broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers, he previously served as the lead voice for MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock in 2022 and was also the lead baseball announcer during the Tokyo Olympics. His return brings a blend of wit and humor that fans have come to love.

“I am thrilled to be rejoining the NBC Sports family,” Benetti expressed. He praised the NBC team, saying, “Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and the whole team at NBC all have a deep appreciation for live sports. It’s a true honor to be part of the dawn of Sunday Night Baseball at NBC Sports. Each week is going to be a new, unique experience with analysts who all have different viewpoints on the game of baseball.”

Benetti is set to make his debut on Thursday, March 26, when the Dodgers face off against the Diamondbacks at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. This matchup will be the only primetime game on the first full day of the 2026 MLB season, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead.

In addition to Benetti, NBC Sports recently announced that Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto, and Anthony Rizzo will serve as pregame analysts for exclusive MLB postseason coverage of all Wild Card games on NBC and Peacock. With Benetti joining this All-Star lineup, the excitement for the upcoming season continues to build.

The three-year media rights agreement will see MLB presented across NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock, starting with an Opening Day doubleheader on March 26. The Pirates will take on the Mets at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the Dodgers hosting the Diamondbacks at 8 p.m. ET, both available live on NBC and Peacock.

Sunday Night Baseball will officially debut on March 29, featuring a matchup between two first-place teams from 2025, as the Mariners host the Guardians. The MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule will kick off on May 3, with the Toronto Blue Jays visiting the Minnesota Twins. Notably, on July 5, all 15 MLB games will be showcased nationally across Peacock and NBC in a special “Star-Spangled Sunday” event.

Fans can also look forward to a variety of additional content, including a weekly Sunday whip-around show, a Labor Day special, the MLB Draft, the All-Star Futures Game, and a range of highlights, short-form content, and documentaries.

For Spanish-speaking audiences, Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games, while Universo will air all games broadcast on NBC, ensuring that all fans can enjoy the excitement of baseball.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.