PITTSBURGH -- "The Fort" is coming back to Pittsburgh.Michael McKenry, the former catcher who spent parts of seven seasons in the Majors, will join AT&T SportsNet's Pirates broadcast team during the 2018 season as a pregame and postgame studio analyst. McKenry, 32, is effectively replacing longtime Pirates pitcher and broadcaster

PITTSBURGH -- "The Fort" is coming back to Pittsburgh.

Michael McKenry , the former catcher who spent parts of seven seasons in the Majors, will join AT&T SportsNet's Pirates broadcast team during the 2018 season as a pregame and postgame studio analyst. McKenry, 32, is effectively replacing longtime Pirates pitcher and broadcaster Kent Tekulve, who retired from his television duties at the end of last season.

"Blessed and honored to be back in the 'Burgh working with such great people," McKenry said in a statement. "Excited for this opportunity and hope to be a part of the AT&T SportsNet family for a long time."

McKenry will work alongside hosts Stan Savran, Rob King and Dan Potash in the AT&T SportsNet studio. He will also report to Spring Training, making his broadcast debut on March 8 during the Pirates' game against the Tigers at LECOM Park. The rest of the crew will remain intact: play-by-play announcers Greg Brown and Joe Block, color commentators Steve Blass, Bob Walk and John Wehner and sideline reporter Robby Incmikoski.

McKenry, who spent last year with the Rays' Triple-A Durham affiliate, also recently accepted a position with the Middle Tennessee State University baseball program as the director of player development.

Drafted by the Rockies in 2006, McKenry made his Major League debut in 2010 and, after a brief stop with the Red Sox, joined the Pirates in June 2011. He recorded his first Major League hit for Pittsburgh on June 15, 2011, and went on to play 187 games for the Bucs from 2011-13.

Adam Berry has covered the Pirates for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook and read his blog.