CORPUS CHRISTI -- The Texas Rangers Baseball Club announced Thursday that Corpus Christi Hooks lead radio play-by-play announcer Matt Hicks will be a permanent part of Rangers broadcasts in 2013.

Hicks, 51, served as interim play-by-play man for the Rangers for three-plus months during 2012. Next year, he'll rejoin veteran voice Eric Nadel, who recently completed his 18th season as lead announcer on Rangers radio broadcasts and 34th campaign overall.

Hicks spent 24 years calling Minor League games for three different teams: Frederick of the Carolina League (1989-94) and El Paso (1995-2004) and Corpus Christi (2005-12) of the Texas League. He is a 1983 graduate of the University of Maryland.

"Hicksie has done a remarkable job for us and we are thrilled for him and his family," Hooks president Ken Schrom said. "Counting our time together in El Paso, we've spent 18 years on the same front-office staff. It's been a very rich relationship, both personally and professionally."

"I am humbled by the Rangers' full-time offer and am very much looking forward to 2013," Hicks said. "Working with Eric during a season in which he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame was an honor and a treat, as it was working with all of the professionals associated with the Rangers on the radio.

"People may not believe this, but the decision to leave the Hooks was not an easy one. Corpus Christi is home for us, and the members of the Hooks staff are like an extended family. I am forever grateful to our fans and faithful listeners throughout South Texas and to everyone with the Ryan-Sanders group for the wonderful experience we've had here."

Hicks will remain with the Hooks through the holidays before officially joining the Rangers on January 1.