MADISON — The Rocket City Trash Pandas have added a heavy hitter to the broadcast booth providing a 1-2 punch for the upcoming season.
Southern League veteran Chris Harris, a two-time winner of the Southern League’s Broadcaster of the Year, will partner with Director of Broadcasting Josh Caray, the club announced.
“I am thrilled to join the best brand in minor league baseball and to be part of an organization that sets a standard for excellence in the industry”, said Harris. “I have always had a special appreciation for Huntsville, Madison, and the entire Tennessee Valley Region.
“I look forward to partnering with Josh in the booth to deliver the best coverage to our fantastic fans in minor league baseball.”
Harris brings a wealth of Southern League knowledge to the Trash Pandas, having called games for 15 seasons across three minor league organizations. The Lexington, Tenn., native got his start with the nearby Jackson/West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx from 2009-14. From there, he took his talents to Biloxi where he was the Shuckers inaugural broadcaster from 2015-17. Harris had spent the last seven seasons with the Mississippi Braves and surpassed a milestone last season when he called his 2,000th minor league game.
“This was a no-brainer,” said Caray. “Chris is one of the most respected broadcasters in the game. Not only does he have a tremendous knowledge of the League, but he also brings so many talents from outside the broadcast booth that make our organization stronger. He’s a terrific broadcaster, and an even better person.
“The Rocket City Trash Pandas are a better organization with the hiring of Chris Harris.”
Harris also holds a place in Huntsville baseball lore. He called the final game at Joe Davis Stadium, when the Shuckers (the former Huntsville Stars) defeated Birmingham in a rain-shortened 7-2 game May 25, 2015.
Due to construction delays on the Shuckers stadium in Biloxi, the Brewers affiliate was forced to spend the first two months of 2015 away from home. The Shuckers’ “home” games those first two months were played at Joe Davis Stadium until the ballpark in Biloxi was finished.
He also co-broadcast the 2010 Southern League All-Star Game at Joe Davis Stadium with then-Stars, now Chicago Cubs, broadcaster Alex Cohen.
Harris got his start in baseball as a player. He was a two-way star for Motlow State Community College, Memphis University and Bethel University, where he graduated.
In addition to baseball, he has called other sports during the offseason as a freelance football and men’s/women’s basketball broadcaster for Southern Miss, Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State, Alabama, and Mississippi State.
Harris and Caray can be heard this season on Talk Radio WZZN 97.7-HD2. All 138 broadcasts will begin 15 minutes before the first pitch with the pregame show. Each contest can also be heard via the MiLB Gameday App.
All home games can be seen on WAAY The Grio as well as a subscription to the MILB.TV package.
The Trash Pandas will open their fifth season at Toyota Field on April 4 against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
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