With Kevin Frandsen’s departure, the Phillies have big ‘radio shoes’ to fill.
Philadelphia Phillies fans received disappointing news on Thursday, learning that the Washington Nationals hired well-respected radio color analyst Kevin Frandsen as their television color commentator for the 2022 season.
Frandsen joined the Phillies broadcast team following the 2017 season. He started working select road games on the Phillies Radio Network but eventually began calling most away broadcasts — in addition to some at home — with Larry Andersen cutting back his time on the airwaves.
It is not yet known who will replace Frandsen in the radio broadcast booth. And, there is not much time before spring training gets underway — assuming issues surrounding the lockout resolve soon.
Fans have speculated that 2008 World Series champion Jimmy Rollins would be a good fit, as the franchise hits leader has worked as a professional broadcaster in recent years. However, one of Rollins’ former teammates might fill the radio broadcast void, instead.
HMMMMMM😮 https://t.co/wuhREZnWsW
— Shane Victorino (@ShaneVictorino) January 21, 2022
Quote-tweeting baseball scribe Kevin Cooney’s tweet about “it will be interesting to see who takes Frandsen’s role,” beloved Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino responded early Friday morning with “hmm,” followed by a surprised emoji. The two-time World Series champion, two-time All-Star, and four-time Gold Glove Award-winner could very well be teasing that it will be him.
Like Victorino, Frandsen is also a former Phillies player. He signed with the club as a minor-league free-agent in March 2011 and played more than 170 games in red pinstripes between the 2012-13 seasons — batting .280 with a .333 on-base percentage as a reliable bench player. Frandsen also played for the San Francisco Giants (2006-09; 2015), Los Angeles Angels (2010), and Nationals (2014).
In addition to his radio broadcast duties, Frandsen was a host for Phillies podcasts, including the popular Pine Tar for Breakfast. Whoever replaces him has big shoes to fill. Perhaps it will be the Flyin’ Hawaiian.