Former Royal Raul Ibanez joins FOX as studio analyst

Published Mar. 30, 2015 3:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK -- Raul Ibanez is moving from the field to the broadcast studio.

The former outfielder will be a studio analyst for FOX this season, the network announced Monday.

A 19-year veteran who hit 305 home runs, Ibanez was among the finalists to become Tampa Bay manager, then withdrew from consideration. He played last season for the Los Angeles Angels before joining the Royals last June. Ibanez also played for Kansas City from 2001-03.

FOX also hired Joe Davis and Aaron Goldsmith as play-by-play announcers. Both have broadcast college football and basketball for FOX.

FOX's lead crew is unchanged, with play-by-play announcer Joe Buck joined by analysts Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci, and reporters Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews.

Newly elected Hall of Famer John Smoltz, Eric Karros and C.J. Nitkowski return as analysts.