Former Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers manager, and longtime Dodgers minor league manager Kevin Kennedy – affectionately known to Dodger fans as “The Skipper” – will be returning to the Dodgers radio broadcast booth this season for a significant number of games on AM 570 LA Sports – the Dodgers flagship radio station.

“No matter what, I’ve always been a Dodger,” Kennedy told ThinkBlueLA. “It will be great working with Rick [Monday] again this season.”

Kennedy’s insight into games – especially his analysis on pitchers – has made him a huge fan favorite over the years. He will be back for approximately 30 games in 2017.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

The former manager and longtime MLB Network Radio personality will work games when regular radio play-by-play man Charlie Steiner is on vacation or handling other broadcasting duties with SportsNetLA.

It’s no secret why Kennedy is excited to be back with the Dodgers. The former Taft High School (Woodland Hills, California) and San Diego State University standout catcher and 1976 eighth-round draft pick (by the Baltimore Orioles) grew up in the San Fernando Valley a short 25 miles from Dodger Stadium and is a lifelong Dodger fan. He vividly recalls listening to Dodger games on his transistor radio as a youngster, including Sandy Koufax‘s perfect game on September 9, 1965. Ironically (and fittingly), Kennedy and Koufax would later became close friends when Kennedy became a minor league manager in the Dodgers organization and eventually in the majors. The two have remained close friends ever since.

In 2006, Kennedy authored Twice Around the Bases, a book detailing his journey as a player, coach, farm director and eventually a major league manager. He also spent time as a color analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports, and served as a part-time television analyst for the Tampa Bay Rays until joining the Dodgers radio broadcast team in 2014.

In addition to returning to the Dodgers radio broadcast booth, Kennedy will also assist the Dodgers Alumni League, which participates in personal appearances, speaking engagements, baseball clinics and various other community-oriented and fundraising activities.

“As a former Dodger myself, I’m looking forward to working with other former Dodgers,” said Kennedy. “It will be great to get out into the community, especially representing the team I grew up rooting for.”

Welcome back, Skip!