Melanie Newman

Melanie Newman
Melanie Newman
Baltimore Orioles
	Broadcaster
	Born: Melanie Lynn Newman; May 27, 1991 (age 33)
Teams
	As Broadcaster Frisco RoughRiders (2014–2018); Salem Red Sox (2019); Baltimore Orioles (2020–present); Apple TV+ (2022); BBC (2023);

Melanie Lynne Newman (born May 27, 1991) is an American radio and television play-by-play broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB) and previously did national Friday Night Baseball broadcasts on Apple TV+. She is the first woman to be a play-by-play announcer for the Orioles and one of only four female play-by-play broadcasters active in MLB.

Career

Newman began her broadcasting career while as a student at Troy University,^[2] where she majored in broadcast journalism.^[3] She was the play-by-play announcer for Troy's volleyball team, as well as calling baseball and softball games as a student.^[3] She graduated in 2013.^[3]

She called games in Minor League Baseball for several years, including at High-A and Double-A.^[4] Newman worked as a sideline reporter for Fox Sports Southwest and served as play-by-play announcer for the Frisco RoughRiders.^[5] In 2019, she joined Suzie Cool as part of the first all-female broadcast team in professional baseball when she served as play-by-play broadcaster for the Salem Red Sox.^[6]

In 2020, the Orioles announced that Newman had joined their broadcast team.^[7] The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the MLB season, and so she made her debut on August 4, 2020, becoming the first woman to ever call a regular-season Orioles game when she was part of the radio broadcast team.^[8] Newman also served as a sideline reporter and a studio host for Orioles' television broadcasts.^[9] On July 20, 2021, Newman was the play-by-play announcer as part of the first all-female broadcast team, who called the Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays game for YouTube.^[10]

On September 29, 2021, Newman teamed with Jessica Mendoza to call a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres for ESPN.^[11] It marked the first time that an all-female broadcast team called a nationally televised Major League Baseball game.

For the 2022 MLB season, Newman was a play-by-play announcer for Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball.^[12]

In 2023, Newman was one of three commentators for the BBC's coverage of MLB's London Series. ^[13]

On September 8, 2024, Newman was half of the ROKU Sunday Leadoff baseball broadcast booth between the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles.^[14]