Candidates to replace Dan Shulman on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball taking shape

With baseball spring training just about a month away, ESPN has still not named a successor for Dan Shulman on Sunday Night Baseball. Shulman called the Worldwide Leader’s signature baseball package from 2011 through last season.

Citing a desire to travel less and spend more time with his family, Shulman leaves behind big shoes to fill. And with analyst Aaron Boone heading to manage the New York Yankees, ESPN has some decisions to make on who will call the games with Jessica Mendoza.

Our Joe Lucia gave a comprehensive look at the potential options for Sunday Night Baseball in 2018. But as we get closer to a new baseball season, the list of play-by-play candidates is slowly taking shape.

KARL RAVECH

The primary host of ESPN’s MLB studio, he’s been involved on the Worldwide Leader’s Baseball coverage dating back to 1995. Ravech has called the Little League World Series, the College World Series as well as MLB.

In addition to baseball, Ravech has hosted college basketball and called selected games.

Based on seniority, Ravech might be the favorite to call Sunday Night Baseball, but there are other qualified candidates.

JON SCIAMBI

Sciambi has been with ESPN full-time since 2010. He’s called college basketball and baseball. The man nicknamed “Boog” has called Wednesday Night Baseball since 2014 and contributed to ESPN Radio’s World Series coverage.

And like Ravech, he’s called the Little League World Series and the College World Series.

Before joining ESPN, Sciambi did the radio play-by-play for the Florida Marlins from 1997-2004 and TV for the Atlanta Braves on Fox Sports South and Sport South between 2007 and 2009.

Calling Sunday Night Baseball would not be a stretch for Sciambi as he’s been doing so on ESPN Radio.

DAVE FLEMMING

Flemming calls Monday Night Baseball, college football and college basketball on ESPN. A  fixture on Northern California sports, Flemming was also the voice for Stanford football and a substitute announcer on Golden State Warriors games.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Flemming has expressed in Sunday Night Baseball and ESPN has informed him that he is being considered for the job. He would be the second San Francisco Giants announcer to call Sunday Night Baseball if selected. Flemming works with original SNB voice Jon Miller with the Giants, calling 130-135 games while also maintaining a very busy schedule for ESPN.

So ESPN has a short list of candidates to call Sunday Night Baseball. Just when it will make a final decision is anyone’s guess.