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Nationals add Spanish-language radio broadcasts

The broadcasts will be offered for every game, beginning with the Nationals' Futures Game on March 26.

By Scott Allen | 2024-03-14

Nationals Manager Dave Martinez says he's excited to be able to reach even more fans with the new broadcasts. (Saul Martinez for The Washington Post)

The Washington Nationals on Wednesday announced they will add Spanish-language radio broadcasts this season, with all games airing on DC 87.7 FM, La Pantera 100.7 FM and 1220 AM and the MLB app for MLB.TV subscribers.

The team's Spanish-language broadcast, which will debut for the Nationals' Futures Game on March 26 and continue with Opening Day coverage on March 28, will include 15-minute pregame and postgame shows, as well as player interviews.

Luciano Rodriguez will handle play-by-play and Gustavo Salazar will serve as the color analyst. The duo has a combined 60 years of broadcasting experience. Rodriguez became the first Spanish-language color commentator for the Baltimore Orioles in 1993. In 2009, he called Nationals games for the Spanish Beisbol Network, which aired locally on WZHF 1390 AM, while also working as a play-by-play man for various sports on SiriusXM. Salazar previously called games in Spanish for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, and also has MLB and MLS experience.

More than 11 percent of D.C. residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the most recent census data. The Nationals haven't had a Spanish-language broadcast since 2011, according to the team. Last March, the Athletic reported that 16 MLB teams have a Spanish-language broadcast for every game, and several other clubs provide a Spanish-language broadcast for at least some of their games. The Dodgers became the first MLB team with a full-time Spanish-language broadcast in 1959, one year after the franchise moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

"Baseball is a favorite sport among Latinos, and we feel honored and privileged to bring this live play-by-play programming in the native Spanish language to our loyal and passionate Hispanic audience in the DMV," Jose Villafane, managing partner of Costa Media, the Nationals' Spanish-language radio broadcast partner, said in a statement.

Roughly 30 percent of MLB players identified as Hispanic or Latino last season, according to the league. Washington's Dave Martinez, the child of Puerto Rican parents, is one of six active Latino managers in baseball, while Keibert Ruiz, Joey Meneses and Victor Robles are among the Latinos on the Nationals' diverse roster.

"When we go out on the field every game, the guys know we're there to represent D.C. -- and it's always our goal to make all of D.C. proud, including our strong Hispanic community," Martinez said in a statement. "I'm excited that we'll now be able to reach even more fans with this partnership. We have a lot of guys on our roster who take pride in their Hispanic heritage, and I know they're excited too."


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