Hall of Famer John Smoltz called up to join broadcast team at Fox

John Smoltz will replace Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci, partnering with Joe Buck as the lead baseball broadcast team for Fox next season.

The New York Daily News first reported the shakeup Tuesday with Smoltz ascending to the most prominent role he has achieved since retiring from the game and later diving into broadcast media.

The former Atlanta Braves pitcher was inducted in the Hall of Fame earlier this year and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, anecdotes and humor to his new job. Fox has apparently chosen to move away from the three-man approach it has used the past two seasons with Buck calling the action and Reynolds and Verducci serving as analysts.

Fox added Reynolds and Verducci to its lead team following the retirement of longtime analyst Tim McCarver after the 2013 season. Verducci is a veteran baseball writer in addition to his broadcast work and Reynolds is a former player with years of experience working in studio and calling games, though his approach to analysis is often criticized for talking down to his audience.

Reynolds and Verducci are expected to remain involved in the Fox coverage of baseball, but how their roles evolve remains unclear. The changes could cause a few awkward moments when the season begins because Reynolds, Verducci and Smoltz all continue to work for MLB Network as well.

Smoltz is known for a sometimes goofy sense of humor and also for not being shy about taking a stance on tough issues. He is the first Hall of Fame pitcher to have comeback from Tommy John surgery and he dedicated part of his induction speech to encouraging parents not to wear out the arms of their children at such young ages through year-round baseball.