Karl Ravech is no longer a broadcaster for ESPN, but fans should expect to hear his voice during the 2026 Little League World Series.
In late July, ESPN conducted its latest round of layoffs. Despite being with the company since 1993, Ravech was one of several notable broadcasters let go by the Worldwide Leader In Sports.
“I’ll just talk about Karl Ravech, who I have worked with 23 years at ESPN. People ask me all the time about who I root for — friends, family, people you bump into. And I always say, ‘you root for good stuff to happen to good people,’ and that’s why it’s hard today with Karl, because I got to do ‘Baseball Tonight’ with him, I got to do ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ with him, and every time we worked a game — and the last time was Monday night in Philadelphia, we had no idea what was to come — man, you know, he comes in, energy, excited, prepared,” MLB insider Buster Olney said, via the New York Post. “We’re sitting in the office with Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager, the other day, they’re having a laugh. And my heart goes out to him. And I just have loved working with Karl at ESPN.”
Even though Ravech has been laid off by ESPN, he's expected to work the Little League World Series from Aug. 19-30.
According to Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated, the Little League World Series will be Ravech's final assignment.
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How is Ravech allowed to call the LLWS?
According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, ESPN gave Ravech the chance to work a few sporting events this summer.
“After 33 years at ESPN, Ravech was given the opportunity to work some summer dates, according to a source with direct knowledge of the circumstances who was granted anonymity to speak on a sensitive subject," Marchand wrote. "Ravech will call the Aug. 12 New York Yankees-Seattle Mariners game and will be on some Little League World Series action. He has been the lead on the Little League World Series.”
There's no doubt in our mind that sports fans will miss hearing Ravech call the Little League World Series.
