Kevin Brown isn’t in the broadcast booth, and people are wondering why.
Brown, the primary Orioles play-by-play commentator for Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, was reported to have been indefinitely suspended after on-air comments ahead of the July 23 game against the Rays, according to Awful Announcing.
“It’s been a minute,” he said in a pregame segment on July 23 in Tampa. “The Orioles split a two-gamer with the Rays in June. They had lost their last 15 series here at Tropicana Field. … Already got 3 and 2 at the Trop this year after winning three of 18 the previous three years combined.”
The statement about their prior struggles at Tropicana Field reportedly rankled ownership enough to the point where Brown was shifted to the radio broadcast for the Orioles’ series against the Phillies that opened on July 24, and has been absent for eight games since –– excluding two nationally televised matchups.
Sources for The Athletic backed up Awful Announcing’s reporting — though the team disputed the claim.
“A senior Orioles official communicated to us ‘We don’t comment on personnel matters,’” Awful Announcing wrote.
“We look forward to hearing Kevin’s voice soon,” the official said, adding that a suspension had never taken place.
The Baltimore Banner also contacted the Orioles and got a similar response from a team official.
“We don’t comment on employment decisions, however, Kevin Brown will be back with us in the near future.”
MASN is owned by the Orioles.
Brown has not publicly commented on his absence; it is not known if and and when he would return to MASN’s broadcast.
Here’s the clip of Kevin Brown’s pregame comments on the Orioles’ recent record against the Rays ahead of a series finale on July 23. Sources tell AA these comments led to Brown’s current indefinite suspension from Orioles’ broadcasts. pic.twitter.com/csURU04fJU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 7, 2023
Brown has been calling games for Baltimore on television and radio since 2019, and was promoted as the lead voice in 2022.
The broadcaster also does work for ESPN.
The Orioles currently sit in first place of the American League East, hitting the 70-win mark on Sunday after sweeping the Mets in the three-game series.
