Steve Stewart Heading to KC Royals

Former Reds radio voice Steve Stewart will be working with a different Baseball Hall of Fame announcer this season, Denny Matthews of the Kansas City Royals.

Stewart, 45, did Reds games for three seasons with Hall of Fame announcer Marty Brennaman. He was hired in February 2004, before Joe Nuxhall's final full-time season. He has been working for the Reds speakers bureau since Marty's son, Thom, and Jeff Brantley were hired for the 2007 season.

"Overall, the Reds have been good to me. It was a great experience here, and I learned from it," says the St. Louis native.

Stewart will do Royals Radio Network pregame and postgame shows, and call "selected games thgroughout the season," the Royals announced today.

Matthews, winner of the Hall of Fame's 2007 Ford C. Frick Award, returns for a 40th season with Bob Davis, Kansas University basketball and football announcer and former Royals TV voice. Stewart says he will call games when Davis has KU basketball and football conflicts, and when Matthews doesn't travel to road games.

"I'm the third guy, but I'm fine with that. I'm excited about the opportunity. These jobs are hard to get with only 30 teams," he says.

In his four years here, Stewart also did some play-by-play for UC football and basketball and Xavier basketball, and Reds TV pregame shows. Before joining the Reds, he had broadcast some Baltimore Orioles games for four years, plus the Class AAA Richmond Braves and University of South Carolina baseball.

"Both Thom and Marty have been very supportive of me. They've spoken to other teams on my behalf," he says.

As for the Reds speakers bureau, that will continue without Stewart, says Rob Butcher, Reds media relations director. "We will fill the dates with front office employees, broadcasters and local former players," Butcher says.