Giants Broadcaster Kuiper Stays Put for 2026 Season

San Francisco Giants play-by-play announcer Duane Kuiper intends to return to the booth for the 2026 season, separating his future plans from those of his longtime partner, Mike Krukow. While Krukow is set to step away from broadcasting at the conclusion of the upcoming season, Kuiper, 76, has indicated he has no plans to retire at the same time.

The two have formed one of the most recognizable duos in regional baseball broadcasting, working together for 36 years. However, the dynamic will shift next year as Krukow departs. Kuiper acknowledged that the adjustment will be significant but expressed a desire to continue calling games regardless of the change in the broadcast lineup.

Krukow’s exit is largely influenced by his health. He revealed a diagnosis of inclusion body myositis, a degenerative muscle disease, in 2014. Since then, he has gradually reduced his workload as the condition has progressed. Kuiper has also faced health challenges in recent years, including undergoing chemotherapy in 2021, which required him to miss a stretch of games.

The Giants’ broadcasts are carried regionally by NBC Sports Bay Area, a network owned by Comcast Corporation. The stability of the broadcast team is a key component of the network’s local sports content. Shares of Comcast were recently trading at $25.36, with the company holding a market capitalization of approximately $87.15 billion.

Kuiper has experience calling games without Krukow during his partner’s previous absences, though the upcoming season will mark the first permanent change to the partnership in decades.

What to watch

• The San Francisco Giants announcing schedule for the 2026 season.
• Comcast Corporation regional sports programming strategy.

Source: original release