Brian Kenny is a studio host for MLB Network and a boxing play by play announcer for Fox Sports. The television face of sabermetrics and baseball analytics, he is the host of the weekday program MLB Now, known as “the show for the thinking fan". He previously worked for ESPN, and had his own show on ESPN Radio named The Brian Kenny Show. One of the most respected baseball historians and broadcasters in the country, he is also the host of the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies in Cooperstown, New York.
Broadcasting career
Kenny graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, NY in 1985. He also attended St. John's University from 1981-1982. In college, Kenny began his broadcasting career as a reporter for "LI News Tonight," New York Tech’s long-time daily news program. In May 1985, he joined WLIG, TV 55Long Island as a reporter. He was named the station’s Sports Director in September in 1985, beginning his sportscasting career. In August 1986, Kenny was named Sports Director at WTZA-TV in Kingston, NY. He would remain at the station until 1997, winning 11 New York State Broadcasters Awards and 6 Associated Press Awards for his coverage of local sports.
ESPN
After joining ESPN in 1997, Kenny anchored the 6:00 pm SportsCenter, and was the host of Friday Night Fights on ESPN2. On Friday Night Fights, he was known for his heated debates with some of the best boxers in the world, particularly Floyd Mayweather. He also hosted Baseball Tonight,The Hot List on ESPNEWS, plus "Classic Ringside" and The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... on ESPN Classic. In 2005, he hosted a special series called Ringside. It runs three to six hours long an episode and featured on each episode one great boxer. Kenny appears as himself in the 2006 filmRocky Balboa and in the 2007 film Resurrecting the Champ, and also served with fellow ESPN personality John Saunders as the "announcing team" for a home demolition during an episode of that aired on November 2, 2008.. Prior to hosting The Brian Kenny Show on ESPN Radio, he co-hosted Kellerman and Kenny with Max Kellerman on ESPN Radio in New York City.
MLB Network
Kenny announced on the August 31, 2011 edition of The Brian Kenny Show that he was leaving ESPN to become an anchor with MLB Network. His final show was on September 2, 2011, with the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter alongside Jonathan Coachman. Kenny made his debut on MLB Tonight on September 19, 2011. Since 2013, Kenny has been the host of MLB Now on MLB Network. Kenny also appears on MLB Network's flagship program "MLB Tonight", the offseason countdown series "Top 10 Right Now!," and on-site coverage of the All-Star Game and World Series. Since 2017, Kenny has served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Baseball Hall of Fame induction. His first book, Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution, was published in 2016 by Simon and Schuster and won the National SABR Research Award in 2017.
Other Work & Appearances
Kenny was previously the boxing host and blow-by-blow announcer for Showtime Championship Boxing, Fox Sports, and Top Rank. He also hosted "The Brian Kenny Show" on NBC Sports Radio. Kenny appeared as himself in the movie "Rocky Balboa" and "Resurrecting the Champ", while appearing in the television shows "The Dead Zone" and "Brockmire".
