MLB sideline reporter Taryn Hatcher has been ousted from her gig right before the start of the 2026 season.
The 2026 Major League Baseball season is set to get underway later next month. Teams have already reported to Arizona and Florida for spring training. Games have begun, with the regular season set to begin in late March.
Taryn Hatcher, a popular MLB sideline reporter for NBC Philadelphia, will not return to her gig in 2026. It's a surprising - and disappointing - move for the fans.
“Cats out of the bag, so I’ll keep this short and sweet as possible,” Hatcher wrote on X. “Sadly I won’t be returning on Phillies coverage this season. At the conclusion of the 2025 season, I was told that my role on the sidelines at NBCSP was being eliminated moving forward. While the news was pretty heartbreaking, I have to acknowledge that it was a really fun run. I loved every second of it. I’m grateful for everyone who tuned in over the years, and for the wonderful people I’ve met along the way.”
While the decision was disappointing, the network is defending the move.
Alexandra Matcham, NBCSP’s vice president of content, told the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Jeff Blumenthal that it was a business decision, as the network is revamping its strategy with broadcasts.
Why the popular MLB sideline reporter won't return
The broadcasts are "evolving."
“As the game of baseball evolves and changes, so too does our coverage,” Matcham said. “In order to give fans who are not at the stadium the most entertaining and informative broadcast we can deliver, we want to add to our storytelling in new ways. This season, we believe we can do that by bringing a different approach to our coverage.”
Phillies TV play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy revealed that some other changes are happening, too.
Legendary Phillies star Mike Schmidt won't return in 2026, either.
“Mike will be around but not [on] the air,” McCarthy told a user on X.
The Phillies will open the 2026 MLB regular season on March 26 against Texas.