MLB Central hosts celebrate 750th episode

The MLB Central crew reached a big milestone: 750 episodes together.

Robert Flores, Lauren Shehadi and Mark DeRosa, the hosts of MLB Network's flagship morning show, celebrated their 750th episode on Wednesday.

"For me, this is the most enjoyable show and professional experience I've ever had," Flores said. "And obviously it's because of the people I work with. So I'm thrilled. I'm just so tickled that we're making this 750th show a thing. Because it really is a lot of fun."

"I like that people have grown to love watching our show," said DeRosa. "We try to be informative, but make people laugh, not take it too seriously, love on the players."

"And I feel like everybody can find something and find some joy in it," Shehadi said. "From my mom, to my grandma, to the 5-year-old kid who throws in the backyard with their dad, to the players. This show runs the gamut, and everyone can enjoy it."

The trio first hosted MLB Central together in 2018, when Flores took over for Matt Vasgersian, who had been a host alongside Shehadi and DeRosa since the program debuted in 2015. Five years later, they're still going strong.

MLB Central with Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa airs live every weekday morning during the MLB season from 9 to 11 a.m. ET.

On Wednesday's 750th episode, Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa looked back at their memorable moments from their time together on MLB Central. A special piece about milestone numbers in baseball, written by Flores and narrated by Bob Costas, aired during the show.

Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa threw out the first pitch before Wednesday's Orioles-Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.

It's a nice celebration of the three hosts, who have made MLB Central what it is now.

"I think it's the chemistry of the three of us," DeRosa said. "I know what makes Lauren tick; I know what makes Robert tick. ... They're great at what they do. So I let them be great at what they do, and they try to let me be great at what I think I can do."

The three hosts have welcomed more than 900 guests to MLB Central over the years, including over 300 active big league players and 13 Hall of Famers.

They've also hosted their fair share of celebrity guests, from Matt Damon to Jon Hamm to Nick Jonas to Guy Fieri to John Elway to Will Smith.

Along the way, there have been plenty of highlights for the trio, like the breaking news of last year's Juan Soto blockbuster unfolding on the show, or when DeRosa was announced as the manager of Team USA for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, live on MLB Central.

"The joy Robert and I got for him -- because we know him, we know he's a leader, we knew what kind of impact he was gonna have -- it was a special moment in time, because I feel like we've been through his baseball career with him," Shehadi said.

Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa have even taken MLB Central beyond the MLB Network studios. MLB Central has gone to London, for the 2023 London Series between the Cardinals and Cubs, and Los Angeles, for the 2022 All-Star Game.

"We were in the [London] Stadium, and of course, football is all the rage there in Europe, but baseball took center stage," Shehadi said. "It really did. Seeing the fans coming out, in all different jerseys, it was just cool to have a front-row seat to the game going international."

"It's different when you have a chance to talk with players in a more relaxed setting," Flores said. "You pick up and hear different things just from, as DeRo likes to say, having boots on the ground. We're very appreciative when we get to put the show on the road. It's been a nice evolution of the show."

The three hosts have brought MLB Central a slate of signature segments. DeRosa's breakdowns of MLB's star players in particular have become a staple of MLB Central. DeRosa, who played 16 years in the Major Leagues, uses videos, stats and his own experience to analyze the ins and outs of a player's game in an accessible way for all types of baseball fans.

"I love DeRo's breakdowns," Flores said. "I've had a chance to work with some of the best analysts in the industry, not just baseball but in all other sports, and I think DeRo is among the most unique and among the best I've ever worked with."

Those breakdowns often come with insight from the players themselves, as big leaguers join DeRosa in the MLB Network studio to explain how they approach the game.

"I just want to give people at home kind of a teaching moment," DeRosa said. "I'm not trying to show you how to hit a baseball, I'm trying to show you that there are different ways to do it. Those Skyboxes showing how Austin Riley does it in comparison to J.D. Martinez in comparison to Ronald Acuña Jr. -- whoever it may be -- there's some kid at home that's gonna run outside and attempt to do something."

Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa have earned acclaim as the hosts of MLB Central from fellow sportscasters like Ernie Johnson -- the host of TNT's popular "Inside the NBA" studio show alongside Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith -- who was recently named a 2023 inductee to the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

"Really, the biggest compliment I ever got was from Ernie Johnson," Flores said. "He texted me a couple of years ago and said how much he enjoys the show, and I was blown away. Because in my mind, I love this show as a baseball version to 'Inside the NBA.' I love the chemistry that Ernie has with his co-hosts, and I love the chemistry that I have with mine."

They couldn't do it alone, of course. Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa made special mention of the behind-the-scenes MLB Network crew that makes MLB Central happen -- people like producer Mark Capalbo, researcher Eric Nehs, video producer Jacob Bader, director Lucas Altman, associate director Margaret Murphy and more.

"I think we bring the best and showcase the best that the game has to offer," Flores said. "At the end of it, it's always about the game. There's enough that happens around the game where you can add your personality or color or flavor. I think we do a good job of making sure that the players and the game are always at the center of it."

Now that they've done 750 episodes, what's next?

"Let's see if we can get to 1,000," Flores said.