San Diego Padres adding Tony Gwynn Jr. to broadcast team

Former players coming back to the teams with which they’re most associated, whether in a front-office sort of role or as a broadcaster, is almost always a nice story. It’s fun for the fans, it’s a good post-career move for the athlete, and it’s good public relations (and more) for the club.

But Tony Gwynn Jr. taking a role with the San Diego Padres might mean just a bit more. That name means so much to the Padres and a link to their all-time greatest player carries significant meaning and sentimental value. San Diego fans could soon see and hear Gwynn Jr. quite a bit during Padres games for the 2017 season.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune‘s Dennis Lin, Gwynn Jr. is expected to join the Padres’ TV and radio broadcast teams. The plan is for him to appear on Fox Sports San Diego for 30 telecasts, though it’s not yet certain whether he’ll be in the studio for pre- and post-game work or the broadcast booth for game broadcasts. Gwynn Jr. will also be on 30 broadcasts for the Padres’ radio network on FM 949, but his exact role has not yet been announced.

The Fox Sports San Diego broadcast team for Padres games consists of Don Orsillo calling play-by-play with analyst Mark Grant. Mike Pomeranz hosts the “Padres Live” studio coverage with analyst and reporter Michelle Margaux. On the radio side, Ted Leitner and Jesse Adler handle play-by-play duties, with Bob Scanlan providing analysis. Lin reports that Scanlan may do some sideline reporting work for FSSD.

Gwynn Jr. is active on Twitter and not afraid to share his opinions on sports and other topics. If he brings that sort of candor to Padres game or studio telecasts, that could be fun for fans in San Diego and throughout the country to listen to.

I’m glad someone else said it! #DonnyBKnows https://t.co/fE77Y8u2GG

— Tony Gwynn Jr. (@tonygwynnjr) February 23, 2017

This won’t be Gwynn Jr.’s first time out as a broadcaster. Last season, he provided post-game analysis for the Los Angeles Dodgers radio broadcasts AM 570 LA Sports Radio.

“Broadcasting is something I’ve been interested in since I was a little boy,” Gwynn told the Union-Tribune‘s Kirk Kenney after being hired by the Dodgers. “I can recall broadcasting imaginary games plenty of times. It’s a good fit. It’s something I’ve always been interested in honestly.”

Gwynn Jr. played two of his eight MLB seasons with the Padres in 2009 and 2010. He batted .242 with a .650 OPS and 28 stolen bases in 236 games. His father, Tony Gwynn Sr., played 20 years for the Padres, compiling 3,141 hits and a .338 career average in a Hall of Fame career.

[San Diego Union-Tribune]