Matt Vasgersian Matthew Edward Vasgersian ( born September 28 , 1967 ) is an American sportscaster and television host . Vasgersian is a host for the MLB Network and has served as an announcer for NBC Sports ' coverage of the Olympics , and on Fox Sports ' MLB coverage . He formerly called play - by - play for the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres . Early life and career . Vasgersian started his media career as a child actor . A member of the Screen Actors Guild at age seven , he appeared in an episode of " The Streets of San Francisco " and the movie " The Candidate " . A native California n of Armenian descent , Vasgersian graduated from Campolindo High School in Moraga , California and the University of Southern California where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity . While a student at USC , he appeared on " The New Dating Game " , winning a trip to Telluride , Colorado . Major League Baseball . Vasgersian has worked in baseball since 1991 , starting with a six - year stint in the Minor Leagues as a play - by - play announcer . He began his career as a sportscaster with the Chicago Cubs Rookie league affiliate in Huntington , West Virginia on radio station WKEE - AM 800 and was the voice of the High Desert Mavericks ( Seattle Mariners affiliate ) on radio station KAPL . He moved up the minor league baseball ranks over the next several years , working for various clubs in a number of different organizations , ending with the AAA Tucson Toros in 1996 . Vasgersian was 29 years old when he became the play - by - play voice for the Milwaukee Brewers , where he stayed for five years before filling the same role for the San Diego Padres . Vasgersian was with the Padres for seven seasons when it was announced he would be joining MLB Network . On November 1 , 2008 , during a broadcast of the San Diego CIF High School Football " Game of the Week " , Channel 4 announced that Vasgersian would not be returning as a Padres announcer for the 2009 season , having chosen to pursue other opportunities . Later that week , it was reported that Vasgersian had signed a deal with MLB Network to become the network ' s first studio host . MLB Network . Vasgersian has been a studio host at MLB Network since its debut on January 1 , 2009 , appearing regularly in - studio and on - site at the All - Star Game and World Series on " MLB Tonight " , the network ' s Emmy Award - winning live nightly studio show , as well as “ Quick Pitch , ” “ The Rundown , ” the offseason studio show " Hot Stove , " MLB Network ’ s Spring Training series " 30 Clubs in 30 Days " , and MLB Network ' s first - ever game show " Baseball IQ " . Throughout the MLB regular season , Vasgersian calls play - by - play for MLB Network ’ s " Thursday Night Baseball " game package . He called Game 2 of the 2012 ALDS between the Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Athletics on October 7 . < br clear = all > Other ventures . Vasgersian first gained national prominence doing play - by - play for the XFL football league in 2001 . From 2006 - 2008 , Vasgersian had been a regular on Fox NFL telecasts , teaming with J . C . Pearson . In previous years , he had done select games for the network . Vasgersian ' s football seasons have culminated with calling the 2007 Orange Bowl and the 2008 and 2009 Fiesta Bowl for the BCS on Fox . He also has done regional MLB telecasts for the Fox " Game of the Week " , teaming with a variety of analysts , and also lent his voice for NBC ' s broadcast of the 2006 Winter Olympics by being the play - by - play announcer for the ski jumping event . Vasgersian also called USC Trojans men ' s basketball . He has hosted several TV shows , including the game show " Sports Geniuses " ( 2000 ) , Game Show Network ' s " World Series of Blackjack " ( 2004 ) , and " Celebrity Blackjack " ( 2004 ) , the " National Heads - Up Poker Championship " on NBC and the first season grand final of " Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament " . He has also emceed various sports specials and other programs , such as the " International World Championships of Rock Paper Scissors " ( 2004 ) . Vasgersian has also worked on an Ultimate Fighting Championship broadcast , filling in for Mike Goldberg , the usual announcer . Goldberg was working on Fox Sports Net ' s college football telecast on the night of UFC 56 , so Vasgersian provided play - by - play alongside regular color commentator Joe Rogan . Vasgersian is the commentator in every installment of " " since its debut in with Dave Campbell , Eric Karros , Steve Lyons and formerly Rex Hudler . In addition to his work on " MLB ' 06 " through " MLB ' 13 " , Vasgersian was the " host " for several PS1 Sony sports titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s , specifically for 989 Studio sports games . Vasgersian served as a host for NBC Sports coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2010 Winter Olympics . Vasgersian is also a regular feature on the " Dave & Carole " morning show at 96 . 5 WKLH in Milwaukee . Vasgersian is the new host for the MLB on Fox pre - game show as of 2012 . Matt is also a recurring satirical commentator in Hamish and Andy ' s Gap Year .