Tampa Bay Rays Broadcasters

Dewayne anchors the Emmy Award-winning FanDuel Sports Network Sun telecast this year, his 49th season broadcasting major league baseball and 27th with the Rays. Dewayne has also handled play-by-play for FOX Sports national baseball coverage. He has broadcast more than 7,000 MLB games in his career, including 10 no-hitters. Before joining the Rays, he spent three years calling play-by-play for a variety of ESPN sports broadcasts. He began his major league play-by-play career on the radio and TV for the Astros from 1977-84, then for the Cubs from 1985-89. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the Yankees from 1990-94, and spent the 1994-95 seasons calling the action for The Baseball Network (ABC/ NBC). Dewayne began his baseball career as the radio voice of the Oklahoma City 89ers (1973-74). In 1975-76 he won an Emmy Award as the sports director at KPLR TV in St. Louis. Dewayne began his sports career with WSIE Radio before graduating from SIU-Edwardsville in 1975. He earned Distinguished Alumnus of the Year honors in 1987 and was inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame in 2010. Dewayne was named a finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2019. He was named the 2013 Florida Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. In 2015, Dewayne authored Position to Win: A Look at Baseball and Life From the Best Seat in the House, which chronicles his life and career in sports broadcasting. In 2018, Dewayne was inducted into the Tampa Bay Sports Club Hall of Fame. In 2021, he received a Suncoast Sports Emmy Award for the broadcast of Wander Franco’s debut. He and his wife, Carla, support a number of causes, including military combat veterans via their 501(c)(3) charity W.A.R. (Warriors at Rest). He has two daughters, Stephanie Wheeler and Alexandra, and three grandchildren: Gabriel, Zachary and Evie.

Brian enters his 14th season as the full-time television color analyst on FanDuel Sports Network Sun and his 16th season as part of the Rays broadcast. Brian previously served on the major league staff as assistant to the pitching coach, working under Jim Hickey from March 2008 through the 2009 season. He also filled in as a broadcaster for Cleveland on Sports Time Ohio and hosted a weekly highlights show while recovering from injury in 2007. Brian spent 13 seasons pitching in the majors with the Angels, Cleveland, Royals and Diamondbacks, and was a member of the latter’s 2001 World Champion team. He was selected third overall by the Angels in the 1993 First-Year Player Draft and the following season was named the Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year. He was also selected by the Diamondbacks as their first pick in the 1997 Expansion Draft. Brian was inducted to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame on Sep 30, 2015 and made his acceptance speech by phone during the Rays broadcast. He is a member of the inaugural class of the Summit League Conference Hall of Fame, as well as a member of the Wright State Hall of Fame, where he had his number 34 retired. In 2021, he received a Suncoast Sports Emmy Award for his work on the Rays broadcast. He resides in Tampa. Brian has four children: Rylyn Mae, Jackson James, Harper Marie and Baker James.

Rich enters his 11th season covering the Rays on television with the FanDuel Sports Network Sun broadcast team. He is a three-time Emmy Award recipient, including in 2022 when he and his crew were recognized for their roles in the Rays Live pregame show. In 1995, he began his broadcasting career as a sports anchor with the ABC affiliate in Great Falls, Mont. From 1995-97, he served as the sports director with Time Warner Cable (now Spectrum Sports) in Clearwater, where he received a CableACE award for the best local sports program. Rich was also host of “H.S. Sports Extra” for WTVT FOX-13 from 1996- 98, the in-arena voice for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm from 1999–2002 and a host for a variety of other regional programs. He spent a number of years as a national reporter for NFL Network as well. During the baseball offseason, Rich handles college basketball play-by-play duties on ESPN Networks. Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University in 1993. A New Jersey native, Rich has called the Tampa Bay area home for 28 years. He and his wife, Jill, reside in St. Petersburg with their three children: Jason, Lindsey and Bryan.

Tricia begins her sixth season on the FanDuel Sports Network Sun telecast as the in-game reporter and host of select feature episodes. She is a seven-time Emmy Award recipient, receiving two nods in 2022 for her roles in the Rays Live pregame show and the Jean Ramirez episode of Rays All-Access. She previously received accolades for the Lou Gehrig Day pregame special, a “Salute to the Troops” pregame special in 2020 and a 2018 production on the legacy of Peyton Manning. Prior to joining the Rays broadcast, the Stuart, Fla. native spent four years covering local sports with the CBS affiliate in Indianapolis, including the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts. Her career experience also includes a two-year stint covering professional and collegiate teams, including the Brewers and Green Bay Packers, for the ABC affiliate in Green Bay. Her professional career began as a web reporter with the Pacers and Indiana Fever. Tricia graduated from Indiana University with a degree in communications. She has since returned to teach sports broadcasting at IU’s media school as an adjunct professor for the past eight years.

Doug begins his 10th season providing in-depth pitching analysis as a member of FanDuel Sports Network Sun’s pre- and postgame shows. He is a three-time Emmy Award recipient, including in 2022 when he and his crew were recognized for their roles in the Rays Live pregame show. Doug is a St. Petersburg native and graduate of Northeast High School. Prior to being selected by the Devil Rays in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, he had signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of South Florida. With his 2003 debut, he became the first St. Petersburg native to play for the Rays. He remains one of three Rays players born in St. Petersburg, along with Casey Kotchman and Ryan Weber. In his first major league start, on Sep 3, 2003 at Tropicana Field, he pitched a 2-hit shutout against the Mariners. He spent 11 years in professional baseball, six of which came in the majors with the Devil Rays, Marlins and Royals. In 2004, he was presented a key to the city of St. Petersburg by Mayor Rick Baker. Doug is a realtor in the Tampa Bay area and resides in St. Petersburg with his wife, Kristin, and two children, Kaden and Karsyn.

Born and raised in Tampa, Matt begins his second season as an analyst on FanDuel Sports Network Sun’s pre- and postgame shows after a 14-year career in the majors. He attended Armwood High School and Florida Southern College before being selected by the Tigers in the 12th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. After hitting 12 HR in 92 games with the Tigers as a rookie, Matt was traded to the Rays in December 2008 in exchange for Edwin Jackson. He played six seasons with the Rays (2009-14), was named to the AL All-Star Team in 2011 and remains ranked among the franchise’s top 10 in games, doubles, homers, RBI and walks. Among his favorite Rays highlights is a grand slam off Max Scherzer on the night of Matt Garza’s no-hitter in 2010 and a go-ahead homer in the 7th inning of the penultimate game of the 2011 season—the night before Evan Longoria’s walk-off in “Game 162” clinched the AL Wild Card. Matt spent time in the majors with the Tigers, Rays, Angels, Pirates, Athletics, Braves, Marlins and Phillies before announcing his retirement in 2022. In 2023, he was involved in started the Big League Podcast, with Tyler Glasnow as its first guest. He has also opened/acquired six F45 Training studios, a group-fitness concept that has locations in Tampa and St. Petersburg that are both among the top five performing studios in Florida.

Denard begins his second season as an analyst on FanDuel Sports Network Sun’s pre- and postgame shows. After starring at Hillsborough High School and Tampa Catholic High School, he was selected by the Twins in the first round (20th overall) of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. He spent 11 seasons in the majors with the Twins (2008-12), Nationals (2013-15), Giants (2016-17), Rays (2018) and Mariners (2018). He hit a combined .281 and collected 1,498 hits, 72 3B, 71 HR and 185 SB. He tied for the NL lead with 184 hits in 2014, and led his league in triples in 2009 and 2013. He finished 6th in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2008. Raised by his mother, Wanda Wilson, he founded the nonprofit Denard Span Foundation in 2014 to serve and empower single parent households through transportation, education and grocery programs. Money raised by the foundation goes directly to providing reliable cars for families in need. Denard also enjoys serving his community through his church and spending time with his wife, Anne, and their children, DJ, Jace, and Jada.

Ryan enters his third season with the FanDuel Sports Network Sun broadcast team as an in-game reporter and occasional host of the Rays Live pre- and postgame shows. He has covered sports in the Tampa Bay area for nearly a decade, serving as the sports director and main anchor for CBS affiliate WTSP-TV from 2016-22 and as a sports reporter, host and play-by-play broadcaster with Bright House Sports Network from 2012-15. In addition to his role on the FanDuel Sports Network Sun broadcasts, Ryan reports on a variety of topics as a national correspondent for NewsNation TV. He also does some freelance work with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. Prior to his second stint in Tampa Bay, Ryan was a national host for CBS Sports based in Fort Lauderdale, anchoring shows including the award-winning Fantasy Football Today and Daily Fantasy Live. He began his television career in Davenport, Iowa, anchoring for the Independent News Network in 2011. Ryan is a proud UCF Knight, graduating with a journalism degree. He was born and raised in Miami but has strong ties to the St. Petersburg area, as his father, Steve, attended St. Petersburg High School. He currently lives in downtown St. Petersburg and spends much of the offseason in Nashville.

Andy returns to the booth for his 20th season with the Rays Radio Network. From 2005- 22, he shared play-by-play and analyst duties with then-broadcast partner Dave Wills, and the broadcast team was voted best in the American League in 2020 by subscribers of The Athletic. In 2023, he was inducted into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame. He also joins the television broadcast as the Rays TV play-by-play announcer for a select number of games throughout the season. Andy joined the Rays after serving as the voice of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox for four seasons. He was also the voice of the Double-A Trenton Thunder (Red Sox) for five seasons (1996–2000) and was inducted into the Trenton Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018. He began his play-by-play career with the Class-A St. Lucie Mets in 1994-95. His baseball radio career began as a broadcast assistant with the Orioles, conducting postgame interviews for home games during the 1990-93 seasons. His other play-by-play experience includes college basketball for ESPN Regional, Providence College (2003-05) and Rider University (1996–2001). He also broadcast for The College of New Jersey football and Baltimore Spirit soccer. Freed is a graduate of Towson (Md.) University, where he called basketball, football and lacrosse during his time at school. Andy was named 2015 Florida Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He enthusiastically works with the ALS Association. In addition to reciting Lou Gehrig’s famous speech at Tropicana Field every year on “ALS Night,” he emcees various local events, including their annual “Ride to Defeat ALS.” He and his wife, Amy, reside in Bradenton, Fla. with their daughter Sarah, twins Casey and Maddie, and rescue dog, Charlie.

Neil begins his 13th season on the Rays Baseball Network, and second as play by play broadcaster. The previous 11 seasons, Neil hosted the pre- and postgame shows, This Week in Rays Baseball, other team podcasts and was fill-in play-by-play voice. In 2021, he was awarded the Rays Joyce Smith Community Spirit Award, which annually recognizes one employee who makes significant societal contributions beyond their professional responsibilities. Before joining Tampa Bay, Neil was the radio voice of Triple-A Durham from 2004-11 and filled in on the Rays pre- and postgame show from 2010-11. With Durham, he broadcast the Triple-A All-Star Game and Triple-A National Championship Game to a nationwide audience. Before the Bulls, he broadcast for Class-A Lakewood (Phillies) and Class-A Quad City (Twins). He was part of the TV broadcast for the Olympic baseball qualifier Premier12 in South Korea in 2019, and he has done other freelance work for regional and college TV and radio networks. Neil attended Rutgers University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in English. He and his wife, Sari, reside in Palm Harbor with their daughters, Emily and Abby.

Chris begins his first full season with the Rays Radio Network after joining the booth in June 2023 as the Rays Radio pre- and postgame show host, as well as the host of The Week in Rays Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays podcast. He also serves as a play-by-play fill-in for select games during the season. Chris joined the Major League staff after spending just over seven seasons as the voice of the Montgomery Biscuits, the Rays Double-A affiliate. In addition to his work with the Biscuits, he previously served as a sports anchor and reporter for the Alabama News Network, a play-by-play broadcaster for the Northeast Sports Network and Alabama State football, a writer for ESPN and a production assistant for FOX Sports’ NFL and college football broadcasts. Chris graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Me. with a bachelor’s degree in English/Spanish. He resides in Pinellas Park, Fla.

Enrique returns for his 26th season as color analyst on the Rays Spanish broadcast. He received the Alexis Arguello Award, given to the top sports figures in Nicaragua, and the Nicaraguan Sportswriters Association Award for his accomplishments in the world of sports during the 2016 season. In February 2009, Enrique was inducted into the Florida College Sports Hall of Fame for his impact on the college and in life. He is the subject of the award-winning 2009 documentary Henry O!, filmed by Boston-based Rosemont Productions during the 2007 season. Born in Nicaragua, Enrique came to the United States at age 10 and attended the St. Augustine School for the Blind. He called his first professional action in 1989 for the Jacksonville Expos, and then served as color commentator for the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball League. Prior to that, he was the public address announcer for seven years for Florida College baseball in Tampa. He also appeared as a regular contributor on Solamente Pelota (“Only Baseball”) on SiriusXM, hosted his own show on WQBN 1300 AM and has been a guest analyst on USF Spanish broadcasts and on baseball broadcasts and talk shows in Managua, Nicaragua. He has also called action for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (2003-05) and served as the Spanish voice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002-03. Enrique owns a communications degree from the University of South Florida. He delivered the keynote address at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind’s 100th commencement in May 2014. His wife, Debbie, closely assists him on the broadcasts. The two reside in St. Petersburg.

Ricardo begins his 22nd season calling play-by-play on the Rays Spanish broadcast. Taveras has more than three decades of radio experience. He has also worked locally as a sportscaster for Mira TV Tampa. Ricardo began as a sports commentator in the Dominican Republic and was program director for HIVG 870 AM and HIVP 970 AM from 1990-92. He also served as assistant program director for WRIV in Providence, R.I. for three years and as a sales executive for Telemundo Tampa from 2011-13.