Iowa is Cold. But no voice in Minor League Baseball is more on fire than Quad Cities’ very own Kyle Kercheval. The Arizona State Alumni has been with the River Bandits organization since 2021. His broadcasting career after school started in 2019 with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Pioneer League. Two seasons in Colorado eventually led Kyle to Davenport, Iowa, where he’s been a key member of the River Bandits Front Office ever since. Although his main role — if you can really call it a “main” role — is that of Broadcaster, Kyle wears many hats. He’s also in charge of all media relations.

Even in the offseason, it’s a busy job, full of special offseason events and countless other media relations duties to prepare for the upcoming season. Despite his often busy schedule, our own Sean Hackett was honored to sit down with Kyle to discuss a number of things, from staying in shape personally all the way to last season and some of what he saw around the team. Here’s how our interview went.

Sitting down with River Bandits Broadcaster, Kyle Kercheval

Sean: It’s the offseason. How do you stay in peak announcer shape for the upcoming 2024 season?

Kercheval: Throughout the offseason, I spend a lot of time listening to the year’s broadcasts and self-critiquing. During the summer, it can be hard to find the time to listen back to entire games and really dive into the craft, so it’s in these winter months where I not only go back and listen to games I called but also to other teams. In addition, from January to March, I broadcast Quad Cities area high school basketball, which is not only a fun change of pace from a style standpoint but a great way to keep the rust off while waiting for April.

Sean: What attracted you to announcing games?

Kercheval: I’ve wanted to be a broadcaster since I was 12 years old. Back then, my cousin and I would hop on the PlayStation and create these super elaborate franchises in Madden. We’d put ourselves in the game, build all of these storylines, and just spend hours blasting through seasons. That said, we could only do this when we were both together and he lived about half an hour away. Lucky for me, as the owner of the memory card with the file on it, I could access the game and would call him up to give him a broadcast of the game over the phone while I played. I’d come up with sponsors, write game notes, and try to replicate what I saw on TV every Sunday and it was during that time where I realized that play-by-play is what I wanted to do.

Sean: Are you afraid of announcers being replaced by AI? 

Kercheval: With AI exploding over the past couple of years, this is something I’ve thought about more and more, but I can’t quite wrap my head around just yet. I think the human element and human emotion that we all love within sports extends well beyond the play on the field and that includes the broadcast booth. It’s hard for me to imagine trying to artificially create the legendary broadcasters and their calls that have become the soundtrack to our sports memories. The Vin Scullys, the Harry Carays, they’re all one of one, and it’s their unique styles and perspectives that in many ways made Dodgers games, Dodgers games or Cubs games, Cubs games. Trying to manufacture the excitement, emotion, and storytelling within sports broadcasts just feels like a massive disservice to the fan experience.

Sean: Do you think any of these questions were written by AI?

Kercheval: I take back my previous comments. All hail our AI overlords.

Sean: This will be your fourth season as the voice of the Quad Cities River Bandits. You’ve observed players from both teams not only reach the major leagues but also excel there. Are there specific traits, either on or off the field, that you’ve noticed in players during their High A transition that are common among those who make it to the MLB?

Kercheval: Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is the work ethic. All of the guys who have gone from Quad Cities to Kauffman over the past three seasons worked extremely hard day in and day out. They put in the work to get there. The second common denominator is their character. Three of the best examples of this are Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey, and Nick Loftin. There was not a time in 2021 when those guys weren’t anything but professional, kind, and considerate to me or anyone around the team. Anytime those guys were requested for an interview, they were there. Need a quick photo or an autograph for a sponsor? They had you covered. Obviously, they all have incredible skills and talent, but in my experience, it seems like the guys who’ve made it are guys you’ve wanted to make it and I think that illustrates the kind of organization the Royals are trying to build and the values that they hold.

Sean: What makes the transition to High-A baseball special?

Kercheval: High-A is when I think guys really start to dial in how to be professional baseball players. It’s the perfect mix of comfort and challenge. In Arizona, straight out of the draft or free agency, guys are just getting their feet wet and first experiencing what this whole “baseball as a career” is going to look like. Single-A is usually their first taste of full-season, which is obviously quite the transition. Not only are you now playing 132-game seasons, but you’re learning minor league travel, how to follow a nutrition plan, etc. Once guys get to High-A, they’ve got a pretty good idea of how to operate on a daily basis and can really dive into their games.

Sean: To new residents heading from Columbia to Quad Cities, what should new players be prepared for?

Kercheval: It’s cold here. Get ready to play some games in ski masks and hoodies. Second, be prepared to play in front of some great fans in a legendary ballpark. The baseball roots in the Quad Cities run very deep with thousands of ballplayers having made their way through the fourth-oldest ballpark in Minor League Baseball. The Quad Cities franchise has over 400 MLB alumni and eight league championships, so as a result, fans are eager to watch winning baseball and truly just fall in love with the guys who come through their river town.

Sean: Did you have a favorite game that you announced last year?

Kercheval: My favorite game from last season was either the May 27th win over Beloit or the July 3rd win over Wisconsin. Back in May, the team put together its best stretch of the season and its longest winning streak since 2015 (12). In the 11th game of that streak, Javier Vaz—who around that time was really starting to turn some heads—hit a walk-off single for a 2-1 win in the 11 innings to extend the streak.

July 3rd is always one of my favorite games of the season as that’s when fans stick around after for the Red, White, and Boom fireworks show. Synced with music, the pyrotechnics are shot off a barge on the Mississippi River—it’s pretty epic and it draws a standing-room-only crowd every season. But before the postgame festivities, Juan Carlos Negret lit up the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for four hits, including a pair of home runs, and seven RBIs in an 11-1 win.

Sean: Royals development is hidden a bit from the general audience. Last year we saw a surge of pitching development down the line. What did you see in terms of syncing & repeating mechanics that improved the efficiency of this squad compared to previous seasons? 

Kercheval: I’m not sure I’m qualified enough to speak on the mechanic stuff specifically, but I can tell you that the biggest difference in this season compared to last was the strike-throwing. You look at guys like Chandler Champlain and Tyson Guerrero, who struggled working in the zone in 2022, but last season were among some of the best strike-throwers in the organization. Guerrero specifically saw a massive jump and went from an 8.5 SO/9 in 2022 to an 11.4 SO/9 in 2023 and really grew mentally throughout the season. His confidence just went through the roof and the numbers backed that.

Sean: What cultural changes did you see? 

Kercheval: 2023 was an interesting year in that although we ended up being one of the younger teams in the league, Quad Cities saw 14 of Kansas City’s top 30 prospects throughout the course of the year. With that, there was an expectation among players, coaches, and fans that there would be a few more wins come season’s end. As the victories failed to pile up throughout the season, I think there was a bit of a reality check that took place, and learning how to win became a big focus. There was a ton of individual talent on the field at any given time, the key was how to turn it into success.

Sean: Who were the people in the clubhouse that helped build up that culture?

Kercheval: The first guy that comes to mind is Javier Vaz. Nobody on last year’s squad better represents what the Royals value more than Javi. Hustle, tenacity, and scrappiness on the field, professionalism, positivity, and preparation off the field. He’s a guy who both leads by example and isn’t afraid to speak up when needed. With his skillset and his approach to the game, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be one of the most valued guys in the system not only as a player but as a leader and example-setter for as long as he’s a Royal.

Sean: What was an off-the-field story that you could share with us about last season?

Kercheval: While not specifically “off the field”, one of the best stories from last year was the Wallace brothers getting to share the summer together. Two of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, Paxton and Cayden had never played on the same team before last year, so getting to watch them play opposite ends of the infield throughout the year was really cool.

Be sure to check out the River Bandits on X, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up to date with all the latest happenings from Modern Woodmen Park. On their website, you can find updates on coming events as well as a 2024 team schedule. Last but not least, if you’re interested in working with the River Bandits this season, be sure to take a look at internship opportunities for the upcoming season!