Listen up: Newman makes history in broadcast booth
She’s the first woman to call O’s play-by-play during regular season
After making her Orioles broadcast debut in spring training, Melanie Newman was back in the radio booth Tuesday night to become the first female broadcaster to call play-by-play for a regular-season game in Orioles history.
Newman, who handles play-by-play duties for the 44-station Orioles Radio Network, called Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins. She is one of several new faces on the Orioles’ broadcast team, including radio voice Geoff Arnold, television play-by-play voice Scott Garceau and Brett Hollander.
Newman is the fourth woman to do play-by-play in major league history, and came to the Orioles after being the broadcaster at the High-A Salem Red Sox in 2019. She is the fourth active female game broadcaster in Major League Baseball, joining Suzyn Waldman of the New York Yankees, Jessica Mendoza of ESPN and Jenny Cavnar of the Colorado Rockies.
Means on bereavement list
The Orioles placed John Means on the bereavement list Wednesday, with manager Brandon Hyde saying he was unsure whether the All-Star left-hander would
rejoin the team in time to make his next start.
“He’s dealing with a family matter,” Hyde said. “We’re gonna give him some space and some time.”
A player can be placed on the bereavement list when there is a death in his immediate family. He must remain on the bereavement list for at least three days but no more than seven.
Means started the Orioles’ series opener with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, allowing one run in 4 2/3 innings as he continued to build up after beginning the season on the injured list with arm fatigue. His next scheduled start, based on regular rest, would be Sunday.
The Orioles did not make a corresponding move to fill Means’ place on the roster
ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Marlins, with both games slated for seven innings. Teams are required to reduce their rosters from 30 players to 28 on Thursday.
Around the horn
Shortstop José Iglesias, who didn’t start the past five games with a sore left quadriceps, was back in the lineup for the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, batting third as the designated hitter.
■ With the doubleheader and Means’ absence leaving some holes in the Orioles’ rotation, Hyde said right-hander Thomas Eshelman is a candidate to start one of this weekend’s games at the Washington Nationals.