JUPITER, Fla. — Prior to the Miami Marlins’ spring training game Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Tommy Hutton, the most decorated color analyst in Marlins baseball history, announced that 2026 will be his final season in the broadcast booth.
Hutton will close his storied career having been a part of Marlins television broadcasts for 27 of the franchise’s 34 seasons – first from 1997 to 2015 and again from 2022 to 2026.
Hutton was let go in 2015 for reasons that were never publicly announced, according to The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson.
“It’s just time,” Hutton said Monday to a group of reporters.
“My health is fine. The bottom line in my mind is it’s time. I turn 80 in April and figured that would be a nice round number to end my career.”
This season, Hutton will work 60 of 162 games alongside Marlins play-by-play broadcaster Kyle Sielaff.
Hutton will share the role with Jeff Nelson and Gaby Sanchez.
“Calling Marlins games and being part of this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Hutton said. “I’m deeply grateful to the fans, players, coaches, and everyone who has supported me all these years. Being a part of two world championship teams were great. I had great partners – with Joe Angel, Dave O’Brien, Len Kasper, Rich Waltz, Paul Severino and Kyle Sielaff. I hope I taught them something and learned things from them,” Hutton added.
The baseball world remembers Hutton and Waltz well as the duo that created many memorable moments calling Marlins games.
When Hutton made the special announcement, Waltz FaceTimed to offer his appreciation.
“Congratulations, man,” Waltz said. “You’ve been the best ambassador for Marlins baseball in South Florida for the longest time.”
Fox Sports and the Marlins released Hutton and Waltz before Thanksgiving 2015, after 19 seasons together in the booth.
“I was shocked and hurt,” Hutton said several years ago. “Your ego takes a hit. There were moments that it lingered, and I tried to move on because we’ve got our family around. At the time, our first grandchild was really young and I bonded with her and now I’ve got three granddaughters.”
According to Jackson, former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria was “bothered by a few things with Hutton,” including talking about other teams’ players “too much” and pointing out “a few flaws in the ballpark, including the pitcher-friendly dimensions.”
Hutton said he “never confirmed speculation that a few players were sensitive to his criticism and complained about it,” according to Jackson.
When the new Marlins ownership took over, the team encouraged Fox to rehire Hutton for a studio role in 2018, responding to fans who wanted him back in the booth.
“I truly thank Bruce Sherman and his group, (president of business) Caroline O’Connor, and Derek Jeter was there at the time, for bringing me back,” Hutton said this week.
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Hutton made his Major League debut Sept. 16, 1966 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played first base and the outfield over a 12-year career with the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos.
After being released by the Expos, Hutton moved from the dugout to the broadcast booth, serving as a color commentator for ESPN and for the Expos, New York Yankees and Blue Jays before joining the Marlins.
“Tommy has been the voice of Marlins baseball for an entire generation of fans in South Florida,” Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman said. “Across a 61-year professional baseball career, including 12 seasons as a Major League player and more than 40 years in broadcasting, he has represented the game with authenticity, insight, and integrity. His impact on this franchise and this community is lasting. We are proud to celebrate his extraordinary career alongside our fans.”
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