Why Ken Rosenthal Is Leaving the MLB Network

After 12 years covering baseball for the MLB Network, Ken Rosenthal has confirmed he is leaving the channel.

The famously bow-tie wearing sports reporter wrote a statement on social media confirming the news, which comes months after he had publicly criticized Rob Manfred, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. He was reportedly kept off the air for three months after he first wrote about Manfred in June 2020, and his departure from the MLB Network is being linked to his comments about the commissioner.

While Rosenthal is leaving the MLB Network, he will continue to work with the broadcaster Fox Sports and the online sports site The Athletic.

Why did Rosenthal leave MLB Network?

Officially, Rosenthal's contract with MLB Network hasn't been renewed, bringing his 12 years at the network to an end.

A spokesman for MLB Network told the New York Post that it was to do with freshening up their on-air talent. The statement said: "As MLB Network continues to look at fresh ways to bring baseball to our viewers, there is a natural turnover in our talent roster that takes place each year.

"Ken played a significant part at MLB Network over the last 13 years. From spring training to the winter meetings, we thank him for his work across MLB Network's studio, game and event programming, and wish him the very best going forward."

The Post also suggest that the decision by the MLB Network is related to Rosenthal's articles written for The Athletic in June 2020 where he openly criticized Manfred. In the articles Rosenthal commented on Manfred's handling of negotiations over the season which was threatened, and then shrunk, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

No formal suspension was ever announced at the time but Rosenthal was off the air from June until late August when he returned to cover the MLB Network's trade deadline coverage.

Ken Rosenthal's response to his departure

Seemingly taking the news on the chin, Rosenthal spoke out after the news was announced in a positive manner.

Taking to Twitter, the sportswriter and reporter wrote: "Can confirm MLB Network has decided not to bring me back. I'm grateful for the more than 12 years I spent there, and my enduring friendships with on-air personalities, producers and staff. I always strove to maintain my journalistic integrity, and my work reflects that."

He confirmed his current work situation in a following tweet and wrote: "Nothing else is changing for me professionally. I am proud to remain part of the great teams at The Athletic and Fox Sports."

While he may have left MLB Network, Rosenthal will continue to work as an on-field reporter for Fox Sports and as a senior baseball writer at The Athletic.