Better Know A Broadcaster: Alex Cohen

With baseball paused for the foreseeable future, Baseball America has decided to introduce you to some of the men and women who work as broadcasters for each club.

---

What Is Your Name?

Alex Cohen

Which Team Do You Work For?

Iowa Cubs, Triple-A Affiliate of the Chicago Cubs

Which Other Baseball Teams Have You Broadcasted For?

Gateway Grizzlies (Independent, Frontier League), Huntsville Stars (Double-A Affiliate, Brewers), Melbourne Aces (Australian Baseball League), Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie-level, Royals), Bowling Green Hot Rods (low Class A, Rays).

What Other Sports Have You Broadcasted?

Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, Softball, Wrestling, Hockey, Field Hockey

Who Is Your Favorite MLB Broadcaster Of All Time?

Harry Kalas (I grew up in the Philadelphia area)

Where Is Your Favorite Road City?

Nashville, Tennessee. 

What Is Your Career Highlight?

My first year broadcasting for the Huntsville Stars back in 2012, my manager (former first-round pick Darnell Coles) called me to come down to his office about three hours before the game. I thought I made a mistake with a roster move I made earlier that day, so I ran down to the clubhouse and into his office. He opened the door, smiled, and introduced me to Ken Griffey Jr., who was sitting in a chair in the office laughing at me.

What Unseen Parts Of The Job Do You Feel People Should Know About?

Most broadcasters in minor league baseball don’t just broadcast games for the team. Their jobs includes things such as being…

1. Primary media contact for team—which includes writing daily game notes, press releases and coordinating interviews.
2. Sales Executive—sell open inventory like season tickets, outfield wall signs, radio commercials, etc.
3. Travel Coordinator—In PCL, that includes booking flights for the team, maintaining accurate travel and hotel rooming list and arriving at airport before team to make sure tickets and bag tags are printed and team can get through security line smoothly. When the team flies out at 6 a.m. per usual in the PCL, travel coordinator usually gets to the airport around 3 a.m. to facilitate the process.
4. Tarp Puller
5. Team Mascot during corporate events. 

What’s Your Best Story From The Road?

In 2016, the Bowling Green Hot Rods were in the middle of a playoff race during the second half of the Midwest League season in August. We had to bus through the night to Ohio to play the Lake County Captains, where we were playing five games in four days, with a doubleheader the first day. With about an hour left in the bus ride, the bus broke down on the side of the road, and we couldn’t get ahold of any dispatch to pick us up for three hours. We ended up watching the sunrise from the side of the road, finally got picked up at 9 a.m., got to our hotel at 11 a.m., left our hotel at 1 pm. to get to the ballpark, ended up sweeping the doubleheader against Lake County that night and winning all five games that series to clinch a playoff berth during the series finale. Big leaguers on that team included Brandon Lowe, Diego Castillo, Jose Alvarado, Yonny Chirinos. I believe Lowe was only one on that bus ride.

Once the season restarts, you can check out Cohen’s work by listening in on the team radio station (940 AM) or on TuneIn. In the meanwhile, check out some of his favorite calls by following this link.