Orioles 2024 broadcast team brings back Kevin Brown and Jim Palmer, adds Ben Wagner

Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun
Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown emcees the pregame activities during the team’s home opener at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 7. Sources say Brown, the lead play-by-play announcer on MASN, was removed from broadcasts after reading off negative statistics from recent years.

By Jacob Calvin Meyer | jameyer@baltsun.com | Baltimore Sun

PUBLISHED: February 23, 2024 at 4:36 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2024 at 4:43 p.m.

SARASOTA, Fla. — The band is staying together.

Orioles play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown, analyst Jim Palmer and the rest of the main broadcast crew are returning in 2024, the club said Friday. The team will continue to announce games on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and on the Orioles Radio Network.

The 2024 season will be Brown’s sixth with the Orioles and third as the club’s primary television play-by-play announcer on MASN. Palmer, the best pitcher in franchise history, is returning for his 32nd season as an analyst and 61st as a member of the Orioles organization.

Brown was removed from the club’s television broadcasts in July after listing off statistical facts about Baltimore’s poor play in previous seasons and was off the air for almost three weeks. The removal outraged some Orioles fans, who chanted “Free Kevin Brown” during a game at Camden Yards.

The only new member to the team is Ben Wagner, who joins the Orioles’ broadcast crew from the Toronto Blue Jays. He will appear on both radio and television broadcasts throughout the season, the Orioles said in a news release.

Wagner spent the past six seasons as a play-by-play announcer with Sportsnet television and the Toronto Blue Jays Radio Network. He was previously with Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, for 11 years.

“I am THRILLED to join the @ Orioles broadcast team. Let’s go O’s!” Wagner tweeted.

Ben McDonald, Geoff Arnold, Brett Hollander, Melanie Newman, Scott Garceau and Rob Long are also returning to the broadcast team.

MASN and the Orioles Radio Network will continue to have guest analysts throughout the season, including Mike Devereaux, Brian Roberts, Brad Brach and Dave Johnson. Jason La Canfora, who joined the broadcast team in June 2023 as a contributor on game broadcasts and the “O’s Xtra” pre- and postgame shows, was not mentioned in the team’s news release as a guest analyst.

Adley Rutschman connects for a solo home-run for his first at-bat against the Red Sox in the first game of the Grapefruit League Spring Training season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Adley Rutschman rounds third base after hitting a solo home run against Boston in the first inning in the first game of the Grapefruit League 2024 Spring Training season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Mike Baumann pitches against the Red Sox in the second inning of the 2024 season opener of the Grapefruit League play at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Ed Smith Stadium, the home of Orioles Spring Training, is reflected in the mirror lens of a fan attending the first game of the 2024 Grapefruit League season in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Starter Corbin Burnes pitches against the Red Sox in the first inning of the first game in the Grapefruit League Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes, left, takes the field at Ed Smith Stadium to start the first game of the Grapefruit League 2024 Spring Training season against Boston in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles Spring Training camp attendees gather to watch pitcher Corbin Burnes warm up in the bullpen before starting the first game of the Grapefruit League 2024 Spring Training season against the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Outfielder Colton Cowser catches a fly ball in the sun during work out in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Dillon Tate throws live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Dillon Tate throws live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Ryan O’Hearn connects while hitting live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Catcher Adley Rutschman hits a long fly ball during live batting practice at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes holds and two and a half pound weight with his left hand while throwing to work out during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Kaleb Ort throws live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes, right, throws work out during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Outfielder Daniel Johnson juggles baseballs after batting practice is over during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes, from left, talks with catchers Adley Rutschman and James McCann after throwing Bullpen at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Veteran players Jorge Mateo, from left, Austin hays, Anthony Santander are taken to the club house in an electric cart driven by James McCann after they finished Spring Training live batting practice at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Manager Brandon Hyde, left, shares a laugh with pitcher Corbin Burnes during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, left, watches Jackson Holliday takes batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Outfielders Austin Hays, from left, and Cedric Mullins prepare for live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher John Means stretches before workout in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Chayce McDermott throws during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes throws during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Third baseman Coby Mayo practices running the bases during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Jorge Mateo, center, and other players warm up on the first day of full squad workout during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Center fielder Cedric Mullins makes a running behind the back and over the shoulder catch of a fly ball in batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitchers Cole Irvin, center, John Means, right, and others runs sprints to warm up during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday connects during live batting practice at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Gunnar Henderson, center, works out during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Former Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald, left, talks with current pitcher Cole Irvin during 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday, left, forces out Red Sox Nathan Hickey in the fifth inning of the 2024 Grapefruit League Spring Training season opener at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, right, and manager Brandon Hyde watch pitchers throw bullpen sessions during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Kaleb Ort throws bullpen during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, watches batting practice during team’s 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday smiles during batting practice at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Top prospect Jackson Holliday smoothes his hair as he waits for live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Yennier Cano checks out his new WIlson mitts at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. Each player on contract with the sport equipment company gets two new gloves a year. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Catcher Adley Rutschman, right, watches the flight of the ball he hit during batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Outfielder Kyle Stowers throws during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher John Means tosses the ball during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Yennier Cano sports a high top hair cut as he stretches before pitching in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Albert Suarez warms up before throwing batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Yennier Cano throws live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Cole Irvin throws live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday takes fielding practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitchers Matt Krook, left, and Dean Kremer warm up stretching during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles pitchers Corbin Burnes, left, and Dean Kremer take part in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Center fielder Cedric Mullins connects for a home run during live batting practice at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Cedric Mullins works out in center field during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes, from left, talks with catchers Adley Rutschman and James McCann after throwing Bullpen at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Catcher Adley Rutschman backhands to stop a pitch in the dirt during live batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Corbin Burnes will be the starting pitcher of the first Orioles 2024 Spring Training game at Ed Smith Stadium as announced by manager Brandon Hyde in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Second baseman Connor Norby practices during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday locks onto a pitch with intensity during batting practice in 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Second baseman Connor Norby practices during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, left, follows the flight of Jackson Holliday’s fly ball during batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Jorge Mateo makes a running catch of a fly ball in right field during batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Manager Brandon Hyde talks with reporters before Orioles 2024 Spring Training full squad workout at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)