Former Cubs broadcaster named to replace Kelsey Wingert on Braves TV

NBC Sports Chicago reporter Kelly Crull during the third game of the final home series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 5, 2018, at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Credit: Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire

Credit: Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire

NBC Sports Chicago reporter Kelly Crull during the third game of the final home series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 5, 2018, at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Former Chicago Cubs broadcaster Kelly Crull will be the new in-game reporter on Braves telecasts this season, replacing Kelsey Wingert.

Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast announced the hire of Crull, an Emmy Award winner, on Thursday.

Crull had a similar on-air role at NBC Sports Chicago, covering Cubs, Blackhawks and Bulls games. She wasn’t hired by the Cubs’ new TV network, Marquee Sports, which is about to launch.

» MORE: Kelsey Wingert's parting message

Previously, she covered the Padres for Fox Sports San Diego and the Oklahoma City Thunder for Fox Sports Oklahoma.

Fox Sports South/Southeast also said Paul Byrd will return for his eighth season as an in-game reporter on Braves telecasts.

Chip Caray will remain the play-by-play announcer and Jeff Francoeur the lead analyst. Tom Glavine and Joe Simpson also will serve as analysts on some telecasts. Simpson primarily will call games on radio, as he did last season.

Fox Sports South/Southeast didn't renew the contract of Wingert, who had been part of the Braves' broadcast team for the past four seasons.

The Braves’ first two exhibition games, Saturday against Baltimore and Sunday against Detroit, both at the new spring-training stadium in North Port, Fla., will be on Fox Sports Southeast. Caray, Francoeur and Byrd are scheduled to work this weekend’s games, and Crull is not, according to the network.