Root Sports adds Ryan Spilborghs to on-air team

DENVER, Colo. - Former Colorado Rockies baseball player Ryan Spilborghs will join the ROOT SPORTS™ broadcast team this baseball season, the network announced today. Spilborghs will be featured as an on-air analyst of the Rockies Pregame and Toyota Postgame Shows, while also contributing to Rockies ancillary programs such as Rockies Weekly and Rockies Real Time.

"We are very pleased to announce the addition of Spilly to our ROOT SPORTS telecasts," said ROOT SPORTS General Manager David Woodman. "His background as a player, as well as his charismatic personality, add a new energy and insider focus to our Colorado Rockies broadcasts."

"We're very excited to have a former and popular Rockie as part of the broadcast team," said Greg Feasel Rockies Executive Vice President/COO. "Spilly's personality combined with his knowledge of the game will bring fun and insight to every Rockies broadcast."

A Santa Barbara, Calif., native, Spilborghs was recruited to play baseball at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he was a two-time Big West selection. After being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2002, he spent six seasons as an outfielder for the team, hitting .272 with 42 homeruns in 619 games. Spilborghs also did his part to advance the 2007 and 2009 Rockies teams to the postseason. One of his most notable achievements came against the Giants in late August of 2009 when he hit the first walk-off grand slam in Rockies team history.

"I feel so fortunate to have played in the major leagues and now be able to pursue a career with ROOT SPORTS," said Spilborghs. "Being able to work in Denver and still be a part of the Colorado Rockies gives me the best of both worlds. I'm looking forward to sharing my love of baseball and this community with the fans."

Additional information regarding the ROOT SPORTS on-air team for the 2014 Rockies season will be released at a later date.