MLB The Show 22 gets new announcers and commentary engine

MLB The Show 22 has created a new commentary team.

Jon “Boog” Sciambi, currently the play-by-play announcer for Chicago Cubs TV broadcasts, and Chris Singleton, the former Major League baseball player and current ESPN radio analyst, are the new duo calling all of MLB The Show’s Franchise, Road to the Show, Diamond Dynasty, and other games.

They’re replacing play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian, who had been with the series since its inception in 2006, and MLB Network analysts Dan Plesac and Mark DeRosa, who had been in the game since 2017 and 2018, respectively. On Tuesday, a PlayStation Blog post introduced the duo.

SIE San Diego Studio reported that Singleton sat with Sciambi for 128 recording sessions. Singleton made a comment to indicate that the project spanned over a period of more than one calendar year. San Diego Studio says that more than 45,000 lines of audio will be delivered with a new conversation system that “allow[s] for more natural banter between commentators that seamlessly integrates into the live action of each game.”

MLB The Show 22’s commentary will also implement “audio stitching enhancements” that both improve the integration of thousands of players’ first and last names, and should increase the variety of play-by-play and color commentary that players hear.

“Working with San Diego Studio over the past few years has truly been one of the most memorable experiences of my career,” Singleton said, in the PlayStation Blog. “This isn’t easy work for any of us, but we all became a family and enjoyed the grind together.”

Singleton (49) played six seasons in major leagues, 1999-2005. In his debut season with Chicago White Sox, Singleton batting.300 and scoring 17 runs. In the same year, he also hit for the cycle. After retiring from baseball, he joined the White Sox’ radio booth as an analyst for the 2006 and 2007 seasons, then left in 2008 for ESPN’s Baseball Tonight program. Singleton worked alongside Sciambi since 2011 on ESPN Radio broadcasts. Last year, Singleton was hired by Milwaukee Brewers to be a part time analyst for Bally Sports Wisconsin.

Sciambi (51), was appointed play-by-play announcer of Cubs broadcasts via Marquee Sports Network, January 2021. Before that, Sciambi held announcing roles with the Florida Marlins’ and Atlanta Braves’ radio and TV broadcasts. Sciambi also broadcasts regular and postseason MLB games on ESPN Radio. Sciambi began calling sporting events while a Boston College student in the 1990s. He worked with future broadcasters Joe Tessitore, and Bob Wischusen.

Though Major League Baseball’s lockout has now dragged into its third month, cancelling all spring training games through March 17, MLB The Show 22 The game will be available for Playstation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox One on April 5, 2022. It also launches for Xbox Series X (Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) and Nintendo Switch for the first-ever time. Xbox Game Pass will be available for purchase on the same day.