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White Sox inform TV play-by-play announcer John Schriffen his contract won’t be extended
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- White Sox inform TV play-by-play announcer John Schriffen his contract won’t be extended
Credit: CSN
The Chicago White Sox are looking for their third TV play-by-play voice in five years.
The franchise has told John Schriffen it will not extend his contract as its lead announcer.
"The White Sox have informed John Schriffen that his contract will not be extended as the club's lead play-by-play announcer," wrote MLB reporter Scott Merkin on X . "A national search for his replacement will begin immediately."
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The 42-year-old Schriffen became the team's lead television play-by-play broadcaster before the 2024 season , replacing Jason Benetti, who left to become the voice of the Detroit Tigers amid issues related to the organization .
Replacing Benetti, a celebrated national voice, was an uphill climb, and Schriffen faced heavy criticism from local sports radio and some fans out of the gate as he tried to win over the fanbase . By late June, he conceded on air that his first year in the majors had been a struggle.
Speculation suggested he might be out after one season, but he returned for two more, though small fires would crop up from time to time. The White Sox booth, led by Schriffen and Steve Stone, ranked poorly in Awful Announcing's local MLB broadcaster rankings each season, but improved, finishing 30th (2024), 27th (2025), and 21st (2026).
Earlier this month, reports emerged that Chicago Sports Network president and CEO Mike McCarthy began exploring potential replacements for Schriffen , and now the search will begin in earnest.
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"John has been a true professional throughout his three seasons with the White Sox, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and a distinctive style to our broadcasts," Brooks Boyer, the organization's executive vice president and chief revenue/marketing officer, said in a statement on Monday. "As his contract comes to an end, we believe this is the appropriate time to evaluate the direction of our broadcasts and determine what is best for the organization and our fans moving forward.
"We are appreciative of John's contributions and the connection he built with our fanbase. We wish him continued success in his future endeavors."
The White Sox said they will begin a search for Schriffen's replacement immediately.
Schriffen continues to cover UFL, college football, basketball, softball and baseball, NBA G League and Summer League, and MLB for ESPN.
The post White Sox inform TV play-by-play announcer John Schriffen his contract won't be extended appeared first on Awful Announcing .
