PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies play their first Grapefruit League game in 25 days, which means their broadcast teams soon will be bringing the warmth and sunshine of Florida to the Delaware Valley.
John Kruk is the newest addition to the TV team. He agreed to terms with Comcast SportsNet in November, although CSN has not officially announced his hiring. Don't worry, Kruk will be joining Tom McCarthy, Ben Davis, Mike Schmidt and Gregg Murphy on TV in 2017. In fact, the announcement is expected next week.
Kruk and Davis are expected to have a similar schedule as Davis and former analyst Matt Stairs, who will be the Phillies' hitting coach. Davis and Stairs essentially split the 162-game schedule.
Kruk is expected to be with CSN for the foreseeable future, too. Sources said he has agreed to a multiyear deal, perhaps as long as five years.
The Phillies play their first Grapefruit League game Feb. 24 against the Yankees in Tampa, Fla. The Phils' first home game is Feb. 25 against the Yanks at Spectrum Field in Clearwater. CSN has not announced its broadcasting schedule for Spring Training, so it is unclear when it will broadcast its first game.