{"id":174778,"date":"2026-04-09T09:11:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778"},"modified":"2026-04-09T09:11:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:11:51","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8-breaking-dave-obrien-announces-a-throat-injury-and-don-orsillo-has-been-contacted-to-replace-the-red-sox-nesn-broadcaster-a-shocking-move-that-has-both-boston-and-mlb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

BOSTON, MA \u2014 In a surprising development that sent shockwaves through the Red Sox Nation this afternoon, Dave O\u2019Brien, the Boston Red Sox\u2019s primary game announcer on the NESN, announced he is suffering from an injury that will force him to step away from his role as the caller for upcoming games.<\/p>\n

This news immediately sparked heated debate about his replacement, with speculation suggesting that Don Orsillo \u2014 the legendary broadcaster who once served as the \u201cvoice of the Red Sox\u201d \u2014 might return to the NESN as his replacement.<\/p>\n

Dave O\u2019Brien has been the Boston Red Sox\u2019s live broadcaster on the NESN since 2016, replacing Don Orsillo\u2014the legendary broadcaster who worked with the team from 2001 to 2015.<\/p>\n

In a surprising announcement today, O\u2019Brien confirmed he will be absent due to an unspecified injury, forcing him to temporarily suspend his live broadcasts of Red Sox games on the NESN for several weeks.<\/p>\n

Along with an apology to fans, O\u2019Brien said he is focusing on his recovery and is looking forward to returning soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot being able to broadcast live games is disappointing, but health is the priority,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cI know fans have high expectations, and I\u2019m doing everything I can to get back as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Change<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Following news of O\u2019Brien\u2019s injury, major news outlets and the fan community quickly brought up the name of Don Orsillo\u2014who was once considered the \u201clegendary voice of the Red Sox\u201d for over a decade before being replaced by NESN.<\/p>\n

Orsillo was the Red Sox\u2019s primary broadcaster from 2001 to 2015 and was widely known for his down-to-earth yet distinctly Boston-esque calling style, associated with all three of the team\u2019s World Series during that period.<\/p>\n

After leaving NESN, Orsillo moved on to call for the San Diego Padres and continued his successful career there, even signing a contract with the Padres until 2025.<\/p>\n

Sources close to NESN and MLB indicate that, in O\u2019Brien\u2019s absence, the network is contacting Orsillo to consider the possibility of him temporarily returning to call for the Red Sox on NESN while O\u2019Brien is sidelined.<\/p>\n

This caused a stir among fans in Boston because Orsillo remains one of the most beloved broadcasters in Red Sox history.<\/p>\n

There has been no official confirmation from NESN or Orsillo, but immediately after the news, the Red Sox fan community exploded on social media.<\/p>\n

Many expressed their desire to hear Orsillo\u2019s voice on television again when calling games for the Red Sox:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they bring Orsillo back to NESN, that would be the sweetest moment in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDave O\u2019Brien did a great job, but no one can fill Orsillo\u2019s historical void.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comments on MLB forums even suggested NESN \u201cbring Orsillo back permanently, not just temporarily\u201d\u2014a reaction that shows the deep-seated regret still felt by Sox fans.<\/p>\n

However, some have pointed out that O\u2019Brien is a professional broadcaster and the team should prioritize waiting for his recovery rather than immediately replacing him.<\/p>\n

Don Orsillo: Remembered for his warm, approachable style and deep connection to the Red Sox\u2019s history over many seasons, especially during their World Series victory.<\/p>\n

Dave O\u2019Brien: A seasoned broadcaster with extensive radio experience before transitioning to television, he is considered professional and composed, but has been compared to Orsillo for being \u201cless charismatic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Don<\/p>\n

Television commentators and fans often highlight the differences between the two styles \u2014 Orsillo is more expressive and emotionally engaging, while O\u2019Brien excels in professionalism and consistency.<\/p>\n

According to internal sources, NESN is considering several options for the upcoming game call team \u2014 including the possibility of:<\/p>\n

Bringing Don Orsillo back temporarily to call the high-profile game in O\u2019Brien\u2019s absence.
\nUsing backup broadcasters from the team\u2019s long-standing roster (e.g., Tom Caron, Mike Monaco, or another internal member).
\nCoordinating with O\u2019Brien calling remotely if the injury isn\u2019t too serious.<\/p>\n

NESN has not yet issued an official statement regarding the replacement, but according to sources in the MLB sports broadcasting industry, the decision will be announced before the next Red Sox game at Fenway Park.<\/p>\n

If Orsillo does return to call the Red Sox game on NESN, it would not only be a major turning point in how NESN treats its broadcasting history, but also a sign that the team is reconsidering its traditional fan engagement.<\/p>\n

Many believe that bringing Orsillo back would create a new wave of excitement for fans and could boost ratings for televised games, especially during the playoff season.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BOSTON, MA \u2014 In a surprising development that sent shockwaves through the Red Sox Nation this afternoon, Dave O\u2019Brien, the Boston Red Sox\u2019s primary game announcer on… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":174779,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-174778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BOSTON, MA \u2014 In a surprising development that sent shockwaves through the Red Sox Nation this afternoon, Dave O\u2019Brien, the Boston Red Sox\u2019s primary game announcer on...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-09T09:11:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"KING\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"KING\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778\",\"name\":\"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-09T09:11:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-09T09:11:51+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c39bbfd04943c9a6066d47398d20dc83\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg\",\"width\":768,\"height\":768},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c39bbfd04943c9a6066d47398d20dc83\",\"name\":\"KING\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9d48a8db62ae2a08ff5a16c43ac5bf806c0ea86d3af70f223f379b8ea2c9245c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9d48a8db62ae2a08ff5a16c43ac5bf806c0ea86d3af70f223f379b8ea2c9245c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"KING\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","og_description":"BOSTON, MA \u2014 In a surprising development that sent shockwaves through the Red Sox Nation this afternoon, Dave O\u2019Brien, the Boston Red Sox\u2019s primary game announcer on...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-04-09T09:11:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":768,"height":768,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"KING","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"KING","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778","name":"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg","datePublished":"2026-04-09T09:11:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-09T09:11:51+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c39bbfd04943c9a6066d47398d20dc83"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/avtred-7.jpg","width":768,"height":768},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=174778#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Dave O\u2019Brien announces a throat injury, and Don Orsillo has been contacted to replace the Red Sox NESN broadcaster \u2014 a shocking move that has both Boston and MLB fans watching closely! With Orsillo stepping back in, fans are hoping to relive a piece of legendary commentary. This isn\u2019t just a temporary replacement\u2026 it could mark the start of a new chapter in the team\u2019s broadcasting legacy.\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/c39bbfd04943c9a6066d47398d20dc83","name":"KING","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9d48a8db62ae2a08ff5a16c43ac5bf806c0ea86d3af70f223f379b8ea2c9245c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9d48a8db62ae2a08ff5a16c43ac5bf806c0ea86d3af70f223f379b8ea2c9245c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"KING"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com"],"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=174778"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":174780,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174778\/revisions\/174780"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/174779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=174778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=174778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=174778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}