Will Flemming excited to reply the decision in Pink Sox’ radio sales space

When checking in with Will Flemming to ask how he feels about his official position because the radio play-by-play voice of the Pink Sox, it feels proper to border the query within the well-known phrases of his pal, former broadcast companion, and advocate, Corridor of Famer Joe Castiglione.

So, Will . . . are you able to imagine it?

“I imply, we’re speaking concerning the Pink Sox,‘’ mentioned the 45-year-old Flemming, who slides into the retired Castiglione’s lead spot after six years as a part of the radio broadcast workforce, throughout a dialog prematurely of Thursday’s season opener on the Texas Rangers.

“We’re speaking about Joe Castiglione and Curt Gowdy and Ken Coleman, legends of this enterprise.

“That is one thing I’ve been working for and towards for a very long time, and I sit right here . . . it’s nearly not possible to place into phrases, the emotion that I really feel. [This is the] begin of my life because the voice of the Pink Sox. Yeah, that’s cool.”

Flemming has paid his dues in full. He briefly labored in Silicon Valley after graduating from Stanford, however the dream of being a baseball play-by-play broadcaster — which is one thing of the household enterprise now, along with his older brother Dave coming into his twenty second full-time season as a part of the San Francisco Giants’ radio and tv broadcast groups — didn’t cease beckoning.

In 2009, he took a $500-a-month job calling house video games for the Astros’ Single A workforce in Lancaster, Calif. After 9 seasons within the minors, he made his huge league debut within the Pink Sox radio sales space in 2019, when WEEI had the ridiculous notion to make use of a rotating and principally unfamiliar forged of broadcasters with Castiglione in 2019.

Flemming survived that chaos, in addition to a murky offseason following the 2023 season when WEEI, coping with father or mother firm Audacy’s monetary straits and the data that the Pink Sox would oversee the broadcasts starting in 2025, provided him only a one-year deal. He was a candidate for openings with the Tigers and White Sox however ended up sticking round.

It was the clever transfer. Castiglione determined to retire after 42 years within the sales space (although he’ll make occasional appearances this season) and advocated for Flemming as his successor, on and off the air.

“Final yr was such a combination of feelings for me as a result of I listened to him inform the world that I ought to have his job,‘’ mentioned Flemming. “It was an extremely highly effective factor, however on the identical time it wasn’t stunning as a result of that’s how he handled me from the second I walked into that sales space.

“Some individuals on the town and a few media bought on me for crying when he was signing off final yr. I couldn’t care much less about that. To have him say goodbye after which move the baton to me, I don’t know the way any human being couldn’t be emotional about that. I’m not ashamed that it moved me in a manner that it did.”

Flemming, like Castiglione, is easygoing as a broadcaster, however he has his personal model and method.

“As somebody who labored with Joe and watched him be the proper voice for New England and consultant of the workforce, I perceive every thing he means and the particular connection he had with followers for 42 years,‘’ mentioned Flemming. “I really feel so fortunate that he confirmed me the way in which to attach with individuals and he confirmed me the issues followers care about.

“It’s an superior sort of duty to observe him and keep on his legacy, however I’m additionally so excited to place my very own stamp on it. And I really feel just like the six years I sat subsequent to Joe made me as prepared as I can ever be. I’m not making an attempt to be Joe. There’s solely one in every of him, proper?

“He’s so distinctive. I’ll by no means have his encyclopedic reminiscence. I’ll by no means be precisely what Joe was. I’ll do it another way than Joe, as a result of we’re all totally different broadcasters, however I’ll honor his legacy.”

Flemming will most frequently work with former Pink Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who would be the analyst for not less than 70 radio broadcasts. (I think about their advertising division is engaged on “Will and Will” branding as you learn this.)

Flemming mentioned he feels they’ve already constructed a rapport.

“Chemistry is a very laborious factor to search out in any broadcast media,‘’ mentioned Flemming. “Will and I’ve been associates for the final three years, however you by no means know till you really do a recreation whether or not you see it the identical manner.

“And inside 5 minutes of doing our first spring recreation, I mentioned to myself, ‘That is fabulous and we’re going to have a good time.’ ”