Sounds Name Jeff Hem As New Play-By-Play Broadcaster

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds announced today that veteran broadcaster Jeff Hem has been named as the club's new play-by-play announcer. Hem, who was selected from among more than 100 applicants, will serve as the "Voice of the Sounds" on all 144 game broadcasts during the upcoming 2012 season.

"We're excited to have Jeff join the Sounds and become an integral part of the Nashville community," said Sounds general manager Brad Tammen. "We were fortunate to have many quality candidates to consider. Jeff's energy, delivery, and experience in a competitive and dynamic market such as Chicago make this a great fit for our club."

Hem comes to Nashville with eight seasons and over 1,100 games of professional baseball experience under his belt. He spent the past seven seasons with the Single-A Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League.

Career highlights for the 29-year-old include serving as the television broadcast announcer for the 2007 Midwest League All-Star Game and broadcasting from Wrigley Field in July 2008, when his Cougars club faced the Peoria Chiefs on the Chicago Cubs' home field.

His additional duties for the Cougars included sponsorship and group sales and performing public speaking engagements, responsibilities which will also be a part of his new role with the Sounds.

"I am extremely excited about coming to Nashville and joining the Sounds organization. I can't wait to start the 2012 season so that I can experience baseball at Greer Stadium and describe all of the action to Sounds fans on the radio," said Hem. "I am grateful for this opportunity and ready to get the season underway."

During baseball off-seasons, Hem gained additional experience behind the mic while broadcasting high school football and basketball for schools in the greater Chicagoland area. In addition, he co-hosted a two-hour radio sports show, "The Big Sports Report," which discussed the Chicago sports scene and included interviews with various athletes, media, and sports personalities.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Hem began his broadcasting career while in college before completing an internship with the Battle Creek Yankees en route to gaining his position with Kane County. He and his wife, Alissa, are natives of Aurora, Illinois.

The Sounds will kick off their 35th season of competition in April 2012. The team is currently in the process of finalizing its broadcast details for the upcoming campaign and will announce that information in the coming weeks.