Heidi Watney
Heidi Watney (born May 19, 1981) is an American sportscaster. She is a host and reporter for MLB Network. A graduate of the University of San Diego, her past sportscasting experience includes roles at New England Sports Network in Boston, Time Warner Cable SportsNet in Los Angeles, and two stations in Fresno.
Heidi Watney | |
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Watney at Camden Yards in September 2011 | |
Born | May 19, 1981 |
Alma mater | University of San Diego (B.A., 2003) |
Years active | 2002–present |
Employer | MLB Network |
Early and personal life
Watney attended Clovis West High School in Fresno, participating in hurdles, diving, gymnastics and cheerleading.[1] She was a National Merit Scholar and attended the University of San Diego on an academic scholarship, where she graduated with honors in 2003.[2] Watney has competed in the Miss California USA pageant, where she was the first runner-up in 2002.
Watney is the cousin of professional golfer Nick Watney.[3]
Career
Watney's past positions include the Boston Red Sox on-field reporter, host of "The Red Sox Report" and "The Ultimate Red Sox Show" on Boston-based regional sports network NESN (a position she began in May 2008);[4] and prior to that, a sports talk radio host for ESPN Radio 1430 KFIG, and a weekend sports anchor for KMPH-TV; both based in Fresno.[4]
In November 2011, she was hired away from the NESN network to work as a sideline reporter for the upcoming regional sports network Time Warner Cable SportsNet in Los Angeles.[5] However, in September 2012 Watney left Time Warner to join MLB Network.[6] She has hosted the MLB Network's show Quick Pitch weeknights since 2013, but missed the first half of the 2018 season while on maternity leave, she gave birth to a boy.
She appeared in the Dropkick Murphys music video "Going Out in Style". According to Andy Weir, the character Mark Watney's last name was taken from Heidi Watney due to her having been on television when he was writing the book in which the character appears, The Martian.
She appears in the video games MLB The Show 19 and MLB The Show 20 as the sidelines reporter.[7]
References
- "Yankee rivalry excites Watney". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy (9 May 2008). "Watney making a connection". The Boston Globe.
- "Nick Watney". PGA Tour. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- Heidi Watney Bio - NESN.com (archived 2012)
- Ding, Kevin. "Lakers' 2012-13 sideline reporter: Heidi Watney". Lakers Blog. The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- Pepin, Matt (19 November 2012). "Heidi Watney joins MLB Network". boston.com. The Buzz. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- https://www.vgr.com/heidi-watney-joins-mlb-the-show-19-reveals-her-motion-capture-pics/