FOX Sports Sun, the statewide television home of the Tampa Bay Rays, has announced that Kevin Burkhardt will join its roster of Rays on-air talent for the 2019 season.

In his new role, Burkhardt will handle play-by-play duties for a select number of Rays games this coming season on FOX Sports Sun when Dewayne Staats is out of the booth, somewhere in the range of 15-20 games, per Marc Topkin.

FOX Sports Sun SVP / General Manager Steve Tello said adding Burkhardt, “was an easy call to make and we believe Rays fans will enjoy Kevin’s experience calling games nationally, in addition to his knowledge of the game.”

Currently, Burkhardt handles play-by-play duties for FOX’s NFL coverage, but is also the face of FOX Sports’ pre- and postgame coverage throughout the MLB regular and postseason, and contributes to the network’s college basketball studio programming.

“I’m really looking forward to joining what is an already outstanding broadcast team led by Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson in the booth,” Burkhardt said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to call games for one of the most underrated teams in baseball and can’t wait to watch the Rays in action this season.”

Both quotes were provided via press release.

Previously, Burkhardt was the on-field reporter for SNY’s Mets television broadcast team from 2007 - 2014. His role at the network gradually expanded to include play-by-play duties, pre- and postgame shows, and hosting the off-season program. In 2013, Burkhardt began calling games for NFL on FOX.

A New Jersey native, Burkhardt currently resides in Los Angeles. He graduated in 1997 from William Paterson University with a degree in Broadcasting. You can follow him on Twitter: @kevinburkhardt