• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
exclusive
Media

Apple Adds Frank Thomas to Friday Night Baseball Broadcasts

  • Thomas will host casual interviews with MLB’s biggest stars for Apple, starting with Mike Trout this Friday.
  • The Hall of Famer joins Apple after previously spending nearly a decade as an MLB analyst for Fox Sports.
Frank Thomas's Apple debut includes an interview with Mike Trout this Friday.

Hall of Famer Frank Thomas has joined Apple’s Friday Night Baseball broadcast team as a special correspondent. Thomas will provide game analysis and pre-recorded conversations with baseball’s biggest stars to air during Apple’s MLB broadcasts.

“The Big Hurt,” as Thomas was known during his 19-year MLB career, interviewed star outfielder Mike Trout for his Apple debut airing Friday as part of a pre-game studio show leading up to the Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels game on June 9 on Apple TV+. 

Thomas’s interviews with players will mostly occur in stadiums before games on the field or around batting cages.

Apple, which is in the second season of its reported seven-year MLB streaming deal worth $85 million annually, expects Thomas to not appear during each Friday Night Baseball broadcast but rather select marquee games such as this week’s pitching showdown between Angels star Shohei Ohtani and Mariners ace Luis Castillio. 

Thomas, a two-time MVP with 521 career home runs, is the most distinguished former player to join Apple’s MLB broadcast team. The company’s booths for Friday Night Baseball include Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), former MLB pitcher Dontrelle Willis (analyst), and Heidi Watney (sideline reporter). Another booth features play-by-play Alex Faust, analyst Ryan Spilborghs, and reporter Tricia Whitaker.

Royce Dickerson, Apple’s executive producer for live sports, previously worked with Thomas when the two were at Fox Sports. Thomas was an MLB analyst for Fox for nearly ten years before separating from the network before the start of this season upon Derek Jeter’s arrival at Fox. 

Apple is still offering a two-month free trial of Apple TV+ for fans to watch Friday Night Baseball.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 14, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park.

MLB Enters Crucial Second Half With Big Questions Looming

Media, labor, and Cal Raleigh are among the top second-half storylines.
Cal Raleigh

Home Run Derby Came Down to a 1-Inch Hawk-Eye Measurement

One expert is skeptical that the measurement could be that precise.

Manfred on State of MLB: Pay Gap Is Growing, Media Future in..

Divisions between management and labor are again laid bare.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.

Featured Today

May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.
July 11, 2025

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
F1
July 11, 2025

F1 ‘Poised’ to Choose Apple Money Over ESPN Reach

Formula One looks to be changing lanes.
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
July 10, 2025

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive
July 8, 2025

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.