Jones has only called two full baseball games as a broadcaster since retiring from MLB in '12GETTY IMAGES
ESPN has hired Baseball HOFer Chipper Jones to "broadcast 20 games as a color analyst" during its "Wednesday Night Baseball" broadcasts, according to Carroll Rogers Walton of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Jones, who has "dabbled in broadcasting" since retiring after the '12 MLB season, replaces David Ross, who was hired in the offseason as the Cubs' new manager. Jones said, "I really have fun talking the game. I feel like I have something to impart upon the people tuning in, and I have fun doing it." Rogers Walton noted Jones has only called two full games as a broadcaster, but his "on-air presence is so polished" that ESPN took notice. The net "got a taste of Jones' potential last year when he was invited into its 'Wednesday Night Baseball' booth" during a game being called by Ross and play-by-play announcer Jon Sciambi. Jones will work with Sciambi "for at least a portion of the games" this season. He also "no longer will be employed by the Braves," though there is "still a possibility he'll sign on to do some work on Braves regional telecasts" on FS South as he did last season (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 3/1).
