Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network

The Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network is a radio network in the southeastern United States that broadcasts baseball games and related programming for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. Additionally, there is a 2-station Spanish language network. Since 2009, WDAE/620 in St. Petersburg, Florida, has served as the flagship station for the network.[1]

In addition, WGES/680 in St. Petersburg, Florida airs games in Spanish but is not part of the network.[2]

Announcers

Paul Olden and Charlie Slowes were the Devil Rays' original radio team, broadcasting games from the teams' first season in 1998 through the 2004 season.

Andy Freed and Dave Wills formed a new radio team beginning in 2005. Freed had worked in sports broadcasting covering many sports, most recently for the Pawsox Radio Network and Trenton Thunder, while Wills had spent 11 years as a pre and post-game host on the Chicago White Sox radio network after having previously been the radio voice of the Kane County Cougars. The two worked together for 18 season and were voted the best radio team in the American League in a 2020 poll.[3] However, the partnership ended suddenly when Wills died just before the start of the 2023 season.[4]

Neil Solondz joined the Rays Radio Network in 2012 as a pregame and postgame show host after having spent the previous eight years as the radio voice of the Durham Bulls, the Rays' Triple-A affiliate. Following the death of Dave Wills, Solondz was promoted to join Andy Freed in the radio booth.[5]

On the Spanish broadcasts, Ricardo Tavaras does play-by-play and Enrique Oliu provides color commentary.

Stations

Map of radio affiliates

Stations are current as of the 2021 season.[6]

City Callsign Frequency
St. Petersburg WDAE 620 AM
Arcadia WCXS 1480 AM
Bradenton WWPR 1490 AM
Brooksville WWJB 1450 AM
Dade City WDCF 1350 AM
Ormond Beach WELE 1380 AM
Englewood WENG 1530 AM
North Fort Myers WBCN 770 AM
Gainesville WRUF 850 AM
Homosassa WWJB 99.9 FM
Fernandina Beach WYKB 105.3 FM
Orlando WYGM 740 AM
Pascagoula, Mississippi WPMO 1580 AM
Pensacola, Florida/Mobile, Alabama WJNZ 1000 AM
Port Charlotte W251CU 98.1 FM
Spring Hill W280DK 103.9 FM
St. Petersburg WGES 680 AM (Spanish)
Zephyrhills WZHR 1400 AM

Former affiliates

  • WFLA (AM)/970: Tampa (Original flagship station)
  • WORL/660: Altamonte Springs/Orlando (–2019)
  • WFLN/1480: Arcadia, Florida (?-2012)
  • WHOO/1080: Kissimmee, Florida (?-2012)
  • WGMW/99.5: LaCrosse, Florida/Gainesville (?-2009)
  • WJBX/770: North Fort Myers, Florida (?-2012)
  • WHOO/1080: Orlando (?-2012)
  • WJUA/1200: Pine Island Center/Ft. Myers (2013)
  • WSTU/1450: Stuart, Florida (?-2012)
  • WIXC/1060: Titusville, Florida (~2008)
  • KLRG/880: Little Rock (2013-)
  • WIQR/1410: Prattville, Alabama (?-2016)
  • WWCN/99.3: Fort Myers, Florida

See also

References

  1. ^ tbnweekly.com January 20, 2009 Rays move radio broadcasts to WDAE
  2. ^ Tampa Bay Rays Official Site - Rays Radio Network Affiliates with coverage map
  3. ^ Brock, Corey; Lin, Dennis (July 27, 2020). "The Athletic's 2020 MLB radio survey results: Readers' favorite voices of summer". The Athletic.
  4. ^ "Rays' longtime radio voice Dave Wills passes away". MLB.com.
  5. ^ Topkin, Marc (March 16, 2023). "Rays promote Neil Solondz to join Andy Freed in radio booth". Tampa Bay Times.
  6. ^ "Rays Radio - Tampa Bay Rays". RaysBaseball.com. MLB Advanced Meida. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
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