NBC Sports California has named Jenny Cavner the primary play-by-play announcer for Oakland Athletics games, it was announced Tuesday.
The veteran, with 20 years of media experience and 17 years of baseball coverage, will be the first female lead play-by-play commentator in Major League history. She will call the majority of the A's games.
For the past 12 years, Kavner has served as a backup play-by-play announcer, pregame and postgame host, and reporter for the Colorado Rockies' local television broadcasts. During her tenure, she covered the Rockies, in 2018 she became the first woman in a quarter century to serve as TV play-by-play for an MLB game, and in 2015 she provided analysis for the National League Series on radio. She became the first woman to do so. . She previously covered the San Diego Padres as a reporter and anchor for nearly five years.
“Jenny is an extremely talented announcer with extensive experience covering baseball,” said Matt Murphy, president and general manager of NBC Sports California and NBC Sports Bay Area. “She is a groundbreaking professional who has earned the admiration of fans and colleagues throughout her career. We are excited for her to join our talented team and lead our A's coverage starting this season. .”
Kavner is also a regular contributor to SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio throughout the regular season and postseason. She also calls men's and women's college basketball on FS1 and the Pac 12 Network. Kavner, a five-time Emmy Award winner, is the first woman to be named the National Sports Media Association's (NSMA) Colorado Sportscaster of the Year in 2021.
“It's a dream come true to join the broadcast team that tells the story of the Oakland Athletics and their rich baseball history,” Kavner said. “Growing up as the daughter of a baseball coach, I loved the game from an early age and loved the stories, history, and relationships it provided. We're excited to get started and move forward on this journey together, sharing our experience with the Athletics' loyal fans.”
Kavner has covered several other teams and sports as a reporter, anchor and host. She served as a host covering the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, co-hosted the Olympics show, and spent nearly five years as a sideline reporter and program contributor covering San Diego State University athletics.
A graduate of Colorado State University and a member of the lacrosse team, Cavner began his media career as an intern at KUSA/NBC 9 in Denver and as a sports reporter for a radio station in Fort Collins, Colorado. He then held various positions. He is active in both sports media and lacrosse, including serving as an assistant coach at UCLA for two seasons.
