Veteran ESPN commentator Karl Ravech is the primary host of ESPN’s MLB studio and pre-game show, Baseball Tonight and has been a regular part of the Monday Night Baseball team since the 2016 season. He has also been the voice of ESPN’s Home Run Derby telecast since 2017.

Ravech serves as a play-by-play commentator for ESPN’s KBO League coverage in 2020.

He joined ESPN in May 1993 and has hosted ESPN’s studio coverage of the MLB playoffs and World Series since 1995.

Since 2006, Ravech has provided commentary for ESPN and ABC coverage of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. In 2011, he added the Little League World Series Championship games and the College World Series to his yearly schedule. During the winter, Ravech is a play-by-play commentator on ESPN’s college basketball telecasts and has called the SEC basketball tournament since 2017.

Ravech has also anchored ESPN’s college basketball studio wraps operation. Additionally, in the fall of 2000, Ravech followed Tiger Woods’ quest for the Grand Slam while hosting ESPN’s golf coverage at Pebble Beach, St. Andrews and Valhalla.

In November of 1998, Ravech was playing a pickup game of basketball with friends from ESPN when he noticed a sharp pain in his chest. After receiving medical attention, the doctor informed Karl he had experienced a heart attack at the age of 33.

“That experience was a wake-up call,” said Ravech. “Now, through exercise and proper diet, my heart is as strong as a professional athlete. I run every day. Who knows why these things happen, but it changed me for the better.”

Prior to joining the network, Ravech served as the weekend sports anchor/reporter at WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, Pa. (1990-93). His assignments included the 1992 Senior U.S. Open golf tournament, Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals’ Double-A affiliate), and MLB spring training. He was nominated for a local Sports Emmy in 1990 and 1991.

From 1987 to 1990, Ravech was employed by WBNG-TV, in Binghamton, N.Y., as a sports anchor/reporter with assignments including the 1988 U.S. Open golf tournament.

Ravech served as the sports director at NewsCenter 7 in Ithaca, N.Y., and as a freelance sports producer for WCVB-TV in Boston (1986-87), while attending college.

Ravech received his Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Ithaca College in 1987. He received his master’s degree in management and leadership in 1990, from SUNY at Binghamton.

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