Jason Benetti is acknowledged as one of the best play-by-play announcers in sports. But Detroit Tigers’ players challenged him Monday night.
Pitcher Tyler Holton went around the clubhouse and asked his teammates to give him a word for Benetti to slip into Monday night’s Bally Sports Detroit broadcast.
Some of the words suggested were ridiculous, including funkytown, yellowtail, Fortnite, pineapples and perpendicular.
Benetti somehow managed to squeeze them all in during the game against the Cleveland Guardians, making some of the references sound eerily smooth.
The Tigers acknowledged Benetti’s brilliance with a post on X including a video of his word magic: “There’s good broadcasters, there’s great broadcasters and then there’s @jasonbenetti.”
There’s good broadcasters, there’s great broadcasters and then there’s @jasonbenetti. pic.twitter.com/UnaSnzYh7E
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 30, 2024
Benetti acknowledged the team’s word choices challenged him.
The @tigers dictionary is deep. https://t.co/IwGJBtIvpJ
— Jason Benetti (@jasonbenetti) July 30, 2024
Benetti is in his first year with Bally Sports Detroit, after surprisingly parting ways with the Chicago White Sox last year. The 40-year-old broadcaster, who still handles national announcer duties for MLB on Fox as well as other sports assignments, showed once again Monday he’s willing to fit right in with his new team.
Tigers fans are happy to have him aboard and most fans agree he’s one of the best in the business.
Jason is the best announcer going! Love when he is on ANY game! https://t.co/F12aCuF96E
— Tim LaComb (@tlacomb) July 30, 2024
Fantastic work with this! @jasonbenetti is the MAN! https://t.co/P693cDRNPz
— Brandon Suever (@SueverMath) July 30, 2024
Jason is one of the best in the game 😂 https://t.co/xqIJIP3SOD
— Travis (@NotaCuttlefish) July 30, 2024
This is great 😂. Jason Benetti has been a spectacular add to the Tigers broadcast booth 🔥 https://t.co/org5uJs6kt
— Craig Campbell (@CJCampbell30) July 30, 2024