MILWAUKEE -- Former Red Sox Triple-A announcer and Phillies TV man Josh Maurer is joining the Brewers’ radio broadcast team, the ballclub announced on Thursday in conjunction with flagship station Newsradio 620 WTMJ.
Maurer is an addition to a radio team that already includes Bob Uecker, Jeff Levering and Lane Grindle, and he will call approximately 60 games in 2022. Maurer's assignments will mostly be road games alongside Grindle, since Uecker’s schedule has been limited to home games and Levering’s TV role is set to expand.
It’s the second time in recent years that the Brewers have dipped into Boston’s Minor League chain for a broadcaster; Levering was working in Boston's system before the Brewers hired him in 2015.
“We took great effort in reviewing candidates to find the right fit for our broadcast team and we are pleased to welcome Josh to the organization,” Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger said in a statement. “With more than 19 years of experience on both radio and television, and a deep knowledge and passion for the game, Josh brings great perspective and talent to the booth.”
The Brewers began their search in November after announcing that primary TV play-by-play man Brian Anderson would reduce his workload on Brewers TV to 50 games as his national duties for Turner Sports and CBS continue to expand. At the same time, Matt Lepay’s tenure on the broadcast team came to an end after eight seasons. Lepay, a regular fill-in for Anderson when Anderson was away, is the voice of Wisconsin Badgers sports, and those duties required more attention. That combination of factors meant a more prominent role on TV for Levering and opened a spot on the radio side.
Maurer worked on both television and radio for the Worcester Red Sox in his previous job, and he has also filled in on several Major League regular season and Spring Training broadcasts for Boston since 2015. A native of Philadelphia, Maurer most recently filled in for longtime broadcaster Tom McCarthy on NBC Sports Philadelphia last September for select Phillies broadcasts.
Over the past four years, Maurer also was the voice of the Boston College Eagles, calling basketball and baseball on radio -- meaning he is well acquainted with 2021 first-round Draft pick Sal Frelick.
Maurer also called football, basketball, hockey and lacrosse for the University of Massachusetts, Charleston Southern University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and on ACC Network Extra.
“It's not a stretch to say that being chosen by the Brewers for this job is the honor of my life,” said Maurer in the team’s statement. “I'm thrilled beyond words and cannot wait to call games with Lane Grindle. To be included in the same broadcast team as Lane, Bob Uecker, [Brewers television announcer] Brian Anderson and Jeff Levering is a humbling honor and with it comes a responsibility to Brewers fans that I will never take lightly.”
Maurer’s arrival does not change anything for Uecker, who is set to return for his 52nd season calling Brewers games.
Nominations open for Nellie Global Award
The Brewers this week opened nominations for the annual Nellie Global Award, an honor launched in 2019 and named for the late Brewers coach and broadcaster Davey Nelson. The award recognizes a Wisconsin resident “who has made significant and meaningful contributions to society on a global scale.”
Nominations may be submitted by completing a form at brewers.com/NellieAward by June 10. The winner will be recognized on the Brewers' social media feeds on June 20, which would have been Nelson’s 78th birthday. He passed away in 2018.