There are two new characters serenading Braves fans every night during these long springs and summers. Fresh voices for both those in Truist Park and those watching from their comfy confines.
The at-home crowd has already met Brandon Gaudin, the team’s new play-by-play announcer for Bally Sports South. He’s a week into his new gig, calling games for the franchise that inspired him to pursue this undertaking.
Those attending Truist Park for Thursday’s home opener were reintroduced to public address announcer Kevin Kraus. The former Triple-A Gwinnett PA voice is on a big-league contract now. This wasn’t Kraus’ first game at the ballpark – he had 10 last season, including two playoff games – but it was the most meaningful.
The Bethlehem native and University of Georgia graduate is not a spot starter this time. He is and will be the voice that resonates across Truist Park.
“Opening Day, there’s really nothing quite like it,” Kraus told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ahead of the Braves’ home opener against the Padres. “No matter if you’re in little league or the minor leagues, like I have been, or in the major leagues. You just get that butterfly feeling. The smell of a fresh ballpark after an offseason. It’s really, really great.
“The fact that I’m here doing this, getting paid to watch a baseball game. I’ll never, ever take it for granted. It’s just awesome. … Very emotional day. Very happy. Mostly excited, a little bit nervous. It’s just a great day all around.”
As people filled the seats and covered the concourse pregame, the Braves aired Kraus’s life-changing moment on their video board. In this clip, Braves radio voice Ben Ingram and starter Spencer Strider surprised Kraus in informing him he’d earned the job amid a search that included 500 candidates. The board was then directed to Kraus, who waved to the audience amid cheers.
“When I first started doing baseball announcing, it was just a way to get some practice with a microphone to do something else,” Kraus said. “But after I did it for a while, I did some other sports – hockey, basketball, soccer – I really thought I could succeed at a major-league level in some sport. After I got to know Casey (Motter, the team’s former PA voice who died last summer) for a while, too, and he gave me a lot of support. After a while, I really did see it as a possibility.”
It’s 6:50 p.m. Kraus entered work mode. He greeted Truist Park from his homely corner of the game-entertainment booth. “Goooood evening, baseball fans.”
Kraus set up the team’s commemorative video of their 2022 season, in which they overcame a 10-1/2-game deficit to win the National League East. He introduced Braves staff and players one by one seamlessly as they strolled the on-field red carpet.
Kraus had a little extra oomph with his “Strrrrrrider,” introducing the evening’s starting pitcher and the man who told him he’d be getting the job. Kraus rattled off the names with enthusiasm and a grin. There were no hiccups. That’s all he was concerned about entering the night.
“I just want to get through the pregame ceremony,” Kraus told The AJC, laughing, when asked what he was most excited about Thursday evening. “That’s all the hoopla. Once the game starts, I’ve done thousands of baseball games. What I’m looking forward to tonight is don’t stumble on words, don’t mispronounce any players, all that good stuff. Then once the game starts, I’ll be good to go.”
While Kraus regaled the 42,803 in attendance - the eighth largest regular-season crowd in Truist Park’s history - Gaudin addressed fans at home. He’s six games into his Braves tenure, but this was his Truist Park debut. Gaudin has spent the last week settling into his role, a transition he said was made vastly easier by his charismatic broadcast partner Jeff Francoeur, but he’d looked forward to Thursday.
Finally, Gaudin sat in the chair he imagined filling in his youth, when he was inspired by Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson and Pete Van Wieren. He’s spent adulthood behind a mic because of the Braves. Now he pays them back.
“It feels like the new pinnacle because it is what got me into this business,” he told The AJC Thursday afternoon. “And when I was age seven, I started watching Braves baseball. That’s how I fell in love with not only baseball, not only broadcasting, but sports in general. So now you fast forward 32 years later, to think about this being the opportunity that I’ve been presented. It feels like, what else wouldn’t be the pinnacle? This is the pinnacle.
“I’ve been fortunate. I’ve had some wonderful opportunities in my career. I’ve been a part of some great teams, some great broadcasts, but this kind of takes it to a different level. And it hits me differently. And there’s a different appreciation that came with this opportunity. And when that phone call popped up on my cell (for the job), it did hit me differently.”
Gaudin’s first inning didn’t lack excitement. Strider began by striking out Padres outfielder Trent Grisham. “A great start, Grisham down swinging,” Gaudin exclaimed. When Strider recorded his third out in striking out Manny Machado on a beautifully placed pitch in the corner of the zone, Gaudin’s voice heightened again. “The payoff – got him! Frozen pizza. Machado is done, the Padres are done in the top of the first.” (As creative as “frozen pizza” might’ve been, Gaudin had already gone viral for a call in which he referenced the three-inch-larger bases “drawing the ire and envy of men everywhere.”)
The game’s eventfulness bled into the bottom of the frame. Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna ripped a double to left off Blake Snell, a Cy Young winner. After pausing to let the crowd have its moment, Gaudin asked, “How hot is that guy?” as he glanced to Francoeur on his left. Acuna was hitting .393 on the young season.
Credit: Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com
Credit: Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com
A couple hitters later, Gaudin called his first scoring play at Truist Park on third baseman Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly. “This one is hit high in the air. (Juan) Soto waits, takes,” he said. “Acuna tags, Braves lead.”
Gaudin was so eager to experience that. After calling six road games, he was giddy to hear the crowd roar when the Braves succeeded.
“I think what’s different is listening to the crowd and knowing that you’re a part of that crowd, like you’re supposed to bring the energy and the passion along with them,” he said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to. Because some of the most memorable calls that I’ve had as being part of a team broadcaster at my various stops, is when the crowd goes crazy.
“You get to punch the call, and then lay out and let the crowd do its thing. And so these first six games on the road were awesome, obviously, because the Braves played well. We had some cool moments, big defensive plays, home runs. But the crowd was silent when those big moments happened, and going forward the rest of the season, when those big moments happen, and you’re at home, and that crowd elevates - that makes the hair stand up on your neck. That’s the good stuff.”
The baseball gods smiled upon Gaudin by night’s end. He was calling a postseason-esque contest, tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth. “All the makings to a great ending to the home opener,” Gaudin said two pitches before infielder Orlando Arcia laced a walk-off single into shallow centerfield. “He’s safe, and the Braves walk it off in the opener,” Gaudin declared as the Braves earned their 7-6 win - their sixth victory in seven games.
Several hours earlier, Gaudin, 39, stood in the hallway outside his new booth and spoke with The AJC. The interview occurred in front of a displayed David Justice “Champs at Last” Sports Illustrated cover from 1995. Gaudin found that fitting.
“I’ve got this in my bedroom still,” he said, pointing to the framed image. “I have all the tomahawks that I collected through the ‘90s, the t-shirts from ‘91 and ‘92 and LCS titles,” he said. “It is kind of funny that we’re sitting here. This is one of my most cherished items. I remember when my parents got me the Sports Illustrated cover, this ‘Champs at Last.’”
The Braves added voices who are new but not unfamiliar. Kraus and Gaudin have finally settled where they are meant to be.
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