The Rays 2024 keeps getting worse.
After six seasons as the Rays in-game reporter, Tricia Whitaker announces she will be stepping away from the Tampa Bay Rays television broadcast, focusing on her role with AppleTV for MLB games, as well as other priorities.
Hi my sweet Rays fans
It is bittersweet to write this post.
But instead of all of a sudden not seeing me on your TV, I wanted you to hear from me that I have some very happy life changes happening which means I won’t be back with @raysbaseball next season ❤️
I will still very much be in baseball & on MLB sidelines for Friday Night Baseball on @appletv — in fact, I will now be with them every Friday, and being there every Friday night this coming season, instead of missing Fridays here and there, will be a joy. We have some wonderful things in store this season on Apple!
I’ll share additional things that are in my future at a later date ❤️
As deeply as I love the Rays organization & my on-air broadcast crew, I want to prioritize things in life that matter most to me right now. I’ll get to be home in the Midwest more with my family, my students & my sweet nephew ❤️
I have loved every second of telling the Rays stories.
The team. The players. The coaches. The front office. The PR staff. The fans. You will always have a huge piece of my heart you welcomed me with open arms.
To my broadcast crew at @fanduelsportsnetworkfla — Dewayne, BA, @richholl, @ry_bass and @dougwaechter10: The five of you are wonderful humans and you are the ones who make the broadcast what it is. You accepted me as a young reporter. You made me feel at home.
To some of my favorite players I met and that have come through the clubhouse through the years, who either became my biggest supporter, my go-to interview or trusted me with their stories and getting to know their families… just to shout out a few of my favs specifically through the years who were complete pros with interviews:
@josesiri22, @glasnowt, @randy_arozarena @manuelmargot @shanemviii @joshlowe2 @nathaniel_lowe @rpepiot10 @t_dubbs10 @pete_af Kevin Kiermaier @thewizardofbaz @shawn43armstrong [Jose Siri, Tyler Glasnow, Randy Arozarena, Manuel Margot, Shane McClanahan, Josh Lowe, Nathaniel Lowe, Ryan Pepiot, Taylor Walls, Pete Fairbanks, Kevin Kiermaier, Shane Baz, and Shawn Armstrong] … thank you.
I’ll continue bugging you for interviews when I’m doing your games on Apple!
And my Camerman @cam_man35 [DJ Moore]. You were my rock through the years. Truly my best friend.
I can’t wait for this next chapter to start ❤️
See you on @appletv every Friday & stay tuned for more!
In addition to her in-game reporting for Tampa Bay, Whitaker has been an in-game reporter for AppleTV’s national broadcasts and an adjunct instructor at Indiana University.
