Carroll Rogers Walton of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that ESPN has hired Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones as an analyst for Wednesday Night Baseball. Jones is taking the spot of David Ross, who was hired to manage the Cubs. Jones will be in the booth for 20 games during the regular season.
Jones has little broadcasting experience, but Jones did boast about how he would have majored in communications if he hadn’t pursued a baseball career. As Walton notes, Jones has been in the booth for two full games, but he impressed nevertheless.
In 2016, Jones worked as a special advisor with the Braves. Walton points out that Jones is no longer affiliated with the Braves as he takes this job. Some broadcasters, namely Jessica Mendoza and Álex Rodríguez, have received criticism for perceived conflicts of interest for having simultaneously worked as broadcast analysts as well as advisors for major league teams.
