“I grew up playing and loving the game of baseball, so it is an ultimate dream to have accepted the role as play-by-play voice of the Chicago White Sox,” said Schriffen. “When you consider all the great and talented broadcasters who have worked White Sox games over the decades, being handed this responsibility truly is humbling.”

“My new partner, Steve Stone, ranks among those greats, and I am looking forward to our calling Sox games together this season as I get to know White Sox fans and they get to know me. I can’t wait to get started.” 

Schriffen is joining longtime analyst Steve Stone, who returns for his seventeenth season in the booth. He also becomes the first Black play-by-play voice in the history of the franchise, and only the second currently in MLB, next to the Mariners’ Dave Sims.

A graduate of Dartmouth University, Schriffen’s career began as a reporter for News 12 New York and called games for his alma mater’s sports programs, including baseball (where he pitched), hockey, and basketball. Schriffen later segued into journalism, as a reporter for WRC-TV Washington, D.C., and as a New York-based correspondent for ABC News from 2012-14. Schriffen headed to NFL Network where he anchored NFL Total Access and NFL GameDay Live, and also worked as a play-by-play man for college football and basketball for CBS Sports. 

In 2020, Schriffen joined ESPN and was the call for various sports including baseball, college basketball, and NBA G-League games, among others. He also called MLB games for ESPN Radio.

Schriffen was one of three finalists for the White Sox job. The other two were ESPN 1000’s Connor McKnight and the Boston Red Sox’s Will Flemming.

It was clear owner Jerry Reinsdorf – who had a say in the hiring decision, wanted someone who made the White Sox broadcasting job their top priority – one that faded from view with Benetti, who also did weekly MLB games for Fox in addition to college football for the network. Schriffen assured Reinsdorf this would be the case. It is currently unknown how many games Schriffen would do for the White Sox since he’s still employed by ESPN, but it would figure to be significantly higher than the number of games Benetti did last year.

White Sox games return to NBC Sports Chicago this upcoming season, as the future of the team and those of the Bulls and Blackhawks on the RSN are unknown given all three teams’ contracts with NBCUniversal end in October. But since Schriffen is a team hire, he’ll continue in his role no matter where the White Sox lands next season.

This development comes as the team is reportedly looking to build a new stadium in the South Loop after their lease expires at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2029. While the team hasn’t officially commented on a possible move, city officials and White Sox management did meet on the matter and the vibes were good. The team is looking to build a fan-friendly park in an area known as “The 78” around Roosevelt Road and Clark Street, which would incorporate modern housing, restaurants, and other amenities lacking in their current location at 35th and the Dan Ryan. Last year, the team was flirting with Nashville as a possible new home.