Ben Davis to Broadcast More Phillies Games at Field Level for NBC Sports in 2026
NBC Sports Philadelphia will change its Phillies coverage in 2026. Ben Davis will broadcast more Phillies games from field level for NBC Sports in 2026.
Why the move to field level
The network is expanding Davis’s role after test runs last season and during spring training. The new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System debuts in 2026. Executives say a former big-league catcher can explain pitch framing in real time.
Alexandra Matcham, vice president of content, framed the decision as viewer-focused. She told local reporters that Davis’s catching background offers immediate context for replay challenges.
Broadcast team changes
The core broadcast booth remains largely intact. Tom McCarthy returns for his 17th full season as the primary play-by-play voice.
Analyst duties will rotate among John Kruk, Ruben Amaro Jr., and Davis. Cole Hamels will contribute on a part-time basis. Mike Schmidt will not return after four appearances last year.
Who’s leaving
Taryn Hatcher will not be back. Her contract was not renewed after the 2025 season.
Hatcher had joined NBC Sports Philadelphia in 2018. She covered multiple Philadelphia teams before her role was eliminated.
Network direction and context
NBC Sports Regional Networks has been reducing in-game reporter roles across its properties. Matcham said the changes reflect how baseball coverage must evolve.
The aim is clearer storytelling for viewers who cannot attend games. She told the Philadelphia Business Journal that broadcasts should be both informative and entertaining.
Davis’s offseason incident and availability
Davis suffered a knee cut while clearing trees at his Chadds Ford home earlier this month. He delayed seeking hospital care for several days and ultimately recovered.
His availability will determine whether he works the opener. The Phillies begin the season against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday. The game airs at 4:15 p.m. on NBC10 and NBC Sports Philadelphia, pending Davis’s health.
