Fox Sports announced on Tuesday that A.J. Pierzynski — long one of baseball’s most outspoken personalities — will be its newest color analyst.
Welcome to the team, AJ!
Two-time All-Star catcher & World Series champ A.J. Pierzynski joins the FOX Sports team! https://t.co/T2WHvGV0Kd pic.twitter.com/pWi1MEzxTg
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 28, 2017
This is certainly not a surprising move. Pierzynski has long done postseason studio analysis for Fox in years when his teams were eliminated. Despite his limited experience, it’s always a role that’s suited him well.
Pierzynski had a long MLB career, which began in 1998 as a member of the Minnesota Twins. Following Minnesota, he played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, before wrapping his career up in 2015 and 2016 with the Atlanta Braves. He made two All-Star teams (2002, 2006), and was the White Sox backstop on their World Series championship team in 2005.
In it’s official release, Fox announced that Pierzynski will work his first game on Wednesday, April 5 when the New York Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays.