The new voice of the Albuquerque Isotopes will be a familiar one to die-hard Los Angeles Dodgers fans.
Josh Suchon, the co-host of "Dodgers Talk" from 2008 to 2011, was named the third radio broadcaster in Isotopes history on Wednesday afternoon. He will call all of the games this season for 610 KNML-AM
"I'll just say that I'm ecstatic to be here," Suchon said. "In my opinion this is the best job in minor-league baseball. When you look at this gorgeous facility, a nickname Isotopes that is such a huge part of pop culture and a logo that's amazing. You look at the history here in Albuquerque and you look at the relationship with an iconic franchise like the Dodgers. In my mind, it's the premier minor-league baseball job."
Suchon, 39, was working freelance in Los Angeles after the Dodgers switched radio networks following the 2011 season.
He also has experience broadcasting Dodgers spring training games on television and radio, and before that he did play-by-play for the Single-A Modesto Nuts and Watertown (N.Y.) Indians.
Suchon is also a former newspaper reporter, having covered both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's for the Oakland Tribune from 2000-06. He has written two non-fiction books, The Gracious Season: Barry Bonds & the Greatest Year in Baseball and the upcoming Miracle Men: Gibson, Hershiser and the Improbable 1988 Dodgers.
"As soon as I saw Josh's name come across my desk, it really piqued my interest," Isotopes general manager John Traub said. "I met Josh first when he was hosting the Dodgers' pre- and post-game show in L.A. in 2009 or maybe even 2008. I watched and listened to Josh do spring training games for the last several years. His resume I don't think does justice to the real diverse background that he has."
The Isotopes received more than 200 applications from around the country and even around the world when former broadcaster Robert Portnoy left the job last month. Traub whittled that list down to a dozen or so finalists.
"We conducted a national search as soon as we found out there's a vacancy and I've got to tell you, we were overwhelmed by the number of applicants that threw their hat into the ring, or their tape into the ring, so to speak, for this position," Traub said. "Some very interesting folks on that list. I even had somebody who applied from Australia. I think it's a pretty highly regarded position.
Suchon received a big recommendation from Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, whom Suchon has known for many years.
"As you guys can imagine, we got 200 applicants and almost as many reference phone calls and e-mails and things of that nature," Traub said. "But when the Dodgers' general manager, Ned Colletti, went out of his way to call me and let me know about Josh and his work with the Dodgers and his knowledge of the game of baseball, his relationship with the Dodgers' front office, coaches, players, et cetera, that was really impressive to me."
Suchon said he and Colletti have had a good working relationship for many years.
"I go back with Ned to 2000 when he was the Giants' assistant GM," Suchon said. "Ned's a former newspaper guy himself. Ned and I, I think there's a mutual respect back then, but I think the way we really bonded was just trading books to each other. He likes to read and on the road I do a ton of reading."
As Portnoy did, Suchon will be the lone voice in the Isotopes radio booth.
"I've worked both solo and with a partner," Suchon said. "I'm comfortable doing either one. My preference for radio is to do it solo. You know what, I hate to always bring up Vin Scully's name, but Vin's philosophy is that if it's just one person it's like a one-on-one, you're talking to the audience. Where if you have two people you're talking to each other."
The Isotopes, with Suchon in the booth, will open the season on April 4 against the Iowa Cubs.
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