Cole Hamels to make regular-season TV broadcasting debut on Sunday
PHILADELPHIA — While it may not be as highly anticipated as his first start in the majors in 2006, Cole Hamels is on the verge of another big-league debut.
Hamels, one of the best starting pitchers in Phillies franchise history and the MVP of the 2008 World Series, is set to serve as a color commentator on his first regular-season broadcast on Sunday. He’ll join a three-man television booth alongside play-by-play voice Tom McCarthy and fellow analyst Ruben Amaro Jr. with Taryn Hatcher as the field reporter when the Phillies take on the Marlins in the finale of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The game will air locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Eastern. After a short stint calling games this spring, “Hollywood” will hit the screen for a contest that counts.
“I’m excited about it,” McCarthy said of working with Hamels. “I mean, he is unbelievably prepared. And I thought his two occasions in spring training, from day one to day two, were unbelievably better.”
Hamels was a guest instructor at Phillies camp this spring and also announced two games on TV with McCarthy: one Grapefruit League game and the Spring Breakout game for minor-league prospects. McCarthy noticed improvements from his new partner by his second day on the job.
The four-time All-Star has spent time around the club ahead of Sunday’s broadcast. He was in uniform on Wednesday to do some coaching. McCarthy believes that’ll help Hamels settle in once he gets on TV.
“It’s getting used to the microphone, getting used to seeing and saying what you see,” McCarthy said. “And I think the fact that he’s been in the dugout and been working with these guys the whole week is going to add a little bit of flavor.”
Hamels formally retired from playing last summer after a 15-year career on the mound. The lefty spent 10 seasons with the Phillies, developing from a top prospect into a franchise icon. From afar, he’s kept tabs on the latest news and information in Philadelphia and across Major League Baseball.
“I think that’s important,” McCarthy said, “because he’s not going to do a lot of games, but he’s still going to have his thumbprint on what’s happening around baseball. So I’m looking forward to it. I love the fact that we have a 2008 World Series champion in the booth with us. I think it’s great perspective.”
The rotation of regular color commentators on NBC Sports Philly includes Amaro, a player on the 1993 Phillies team that won the National League pennant who later became the general manager of the organization; John Kruk, a beloved 1993 Phillie; and former big-league catcher and 1995 first-round draft pick Ben Davis. Hamels will bring some different insight as someone who played for the 2008 team and pitched in the majors only five years ago.
According to McCarthy, Hamels will do games on Sundays periodically throughout the season. He’ll be there for the days when Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, who typically does “Sundays with Schmidt” when the Phillies are at home, is not in the booth.
Hamels will get his first chance this weekend on Easter Sunday. McCarthy is ready to see how it plays out.
“We’ll see if he likes it,” McCarthy said. “We’ll see if he likes coaching. If those two games in spring training are any indication, I think he’s going to be really good at it.”