ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers TV booth will have a new look in 2024.
C.J. Nitkowski, the main analyst on the team's Bally Sports Southwest broadcasts, is leaving the club to take a similar role with the Atlanta Braves.
Nitkowski lives in the Atlanta area and had commuted between Arlington and home in his seven seasons working for Texas.
"The travel demands and time away from my family have become more challenging than I ever anticipated and as I get older, I have been thinking a lot about my work travel and family balance," Nitkowski said in a statement.
Nitkowski called the Rangers gig "a dream job" capped off by the team's World Series title this year.
John Blake, the Rangers' executive vice president for public affairs, said in a statement that he knew Nitkowski would likely have interest in the Braves' analyst role. Braves analyst Jeff Francoeur had announced he was planning to reduce his schedule next season.
Blake said the Rangers "felt it was certainly the right thing to do" to release Nitkowski from his contract and allow him to pursue the role with the Braves.
"C.J. has done an outstanding job of analyzing the game and educating the audience in his seven years in the Rangers' TV booth," Blake said. "He thoroughly prepared each and every game, no matter the club's position in the standings, and he will be missed."
The Rangers are currently working on "how best to fill the television analyst role going forward," Blake said.
Former Rangers Dave Valle and David Murphy had part-time roles on Rangers broadcasts in 2023.
The Rangers, who beat the Arizona Diamondbacks to win the World Series in November, open the 2024 season against the Chicago Cubs on March 28 at Globe Life Field. Whether the Rangers' games will be carried on Bally Sports Southwest in 2024 remains uncertain -- the network's parent company, Diamond Sports Group, is going through bankruptcy proceedings that have clouded their future.
More Rangers World Series coverage:
