PawSox name Jeff Levering as Broadcaster for 2013
The Pawtucket Red Sox have named Jeff Levering as one of their new radio broadcasters for the 2013 season. Jeff's partner is still to be determined as the duo will broadcast all 144 PawSox games on 920 WHJJ and the 12-station PawSox Radio Network. Levering was chosen among more than 150 nationwide applicants to replace Aaron Goldsmith who last month became a new radio voice for the Seattle Mariners.
Levering, 29, has spent the past three seasons as the radio broadcaster for the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in Springfield, MO. He was also the teams Manager of Public Relations. Jeff was behind the mic as Springfield won their first-ever Texas League Championship last season.
Prior to joining Springfield, Jeff spent three seasons (2007-09) as Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Angels High-A affiliate in the California League. Levering began his professional broadcasting career in 2005 as a field reporter and associate producer for Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket in Los Angeles covering the Angels, Dodgers, and Lakers.
Jeff received his degree in Broadcast Journalism from Chapman University in Orange, California where he also played baseball all four years and was the starting Designated Hitter on the 2003 D-III National Championship baseball team. Levering also played in summer baseball leagues as a teammate of Red Sox star 2B Dustin Pedroia.
While he will be on the air for all 144 PawSox games this season, Jeff will also continue the strong legacy of the PawSox blog, social media presence and provide new content to pawsox.com.
"It is an immense honor to be chosen as the next broadcaster for the Pawtucket Red Sox," said Levering. "This is one of the finest minor league broadcasting jobs in the country and with that comes great responsibility and expectations. I look forward to contributing to the PawSox both on and off the air."
As mentioned, Levering replaces Aaron Goldsmith who, after just one season with the PawSox in 2012, became the latest in a long line of PawSox broadcasters to receive the call to the big leagues with the Seattle Mariners this past January. Aaron had replaced Dan Hoard, who spent six seasons in the PawSox radio booth from 2006-2011 before earning the call to the National Football League (Cincinnati Bengals) in the fall of 2011.
The illustrious group of other former PawSox broadcasters in the "big leagues" - all of whom have gone directly from Pawtucket to the major leagues - include: Gary Cohen (PawSox radio in 1987 & '88) who has been with the New York Mets ever since leaving the PawSox, Don Orsillo (1997-2000) who will begin his 13th season with the Boston Red Sox on NESN this spring, Dave Flemming (2001-2003) who has been a radio voice of the San Francisco Giants for the past nine years including two World Series titles in the past three years, Andy Freed (2001-2004) who has called Tampa Bay Rays games since leaving Pawtucket, and Dave Jageler (2005) who was with the PawSox for just one season before he took over as the Washington Nationals radio voice where he has remained ever since.
"We are pleased to welcome Jeff Levering to the PawSox and the PawSox Radio Network led by our flagship station 920 WHJJ," said PawSox President Mike Tamburro. "Jeff is a talented young broadcaster who impressed us with his style and knowledge. We believe fans will quickly come to enjoy his call of the game. He will help form another terrific tandem in what continues to be an outstanding PawSox radio tradition."