Talkin' Nashville Sounds with Jeff Hem (includes Video)

Before the 2012 season, Jeff Hem was named the broadcaster for the Nashville Sounds. Over his dozen seasons behind the mic, he has seen some very good teams and some players who have helped the Brewers find a ton of success. 

On Friday, we discussed his time with the Sounds but also where he called games before that. The University of Iowa grad talked about his career goals when he went to college, and how he joined the world of play-by-play broadcasting. He discussed the uniqueness of Triple-A ball with the variety of player types found at the level. 

And then we talked about several players on the current team. There is a ton of depth ready to help the Brewers when needed, and there are a few prospects who are likely to be a part of the future of the ball club. 

Below the video, you can find the timeline of the interview so you can look back and more easily find where players or topics were discussed. Of course, you can also click on the Video link above to watch more Brewer Fanatic videos. 

1:00: Introduction and background of Jeff Hem's career. Before coming to Nashville, he was the voice of the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League.

3:00: What was your educational path to a career in sports broadcasting? Like the path of most prospects, Jeff's journey to broadcasting was not linear, with several potential career options before realizing this is what he wanted to do.

6:40: How does called play-by-play effect how you call baseball? How does the job differ from sport to sport. Each can provide some unique challenges.  

10:00: In baseball, you never know what will happen with each pitch, and 'the big play' of any game can present itself at any time. 

12:45: The Sounds are managed by Rick Sweet, who is one of the most respected managers in the game. What makes him such a successful manager, particularly for the players in the highest minor-league level? In addition, he just loves talking about baseball and welcomes questions which is great for the broadcaster, and ultimately great for the fans who listen. 

18:00: Pitching Wins! Let's talk about it! Jeff discusses the starting regulars this year. Carlos Rodriguez is a legitimate prospect with a big future. Chad Patrick's flown to Triple-A under the radar, but he's pitching really well. Aaron Ashby is working his way back from his surgery and missing the entire 2023 season. Tyler Woessner came up from Biloxi early and done a good job. But others such as Janson Junk, Robert Gasser, Jared Koenig, Enoli Paredes and others have spent time in both levels. 

24:00: Let's talk about the hitters. Again, there are a couple of players who are a little bit older and maybe their development time took a little while, but they're now at Triple-A, continuing to contribute and putting themselves into at least some consideration for call ups. 28-year-old outfielder Brewer Hicklen is one such player. Vinny Capra is another. Isaac Collins is 26 and came to the Brewers in the minor-league Rule 5 draft in December 2022. He's been fantastic for two full months this season. 

29:16: "It's just not your turn." Because of the current big-league roster, there are several players doing very in Nashville, but right now, the roster is difficult to crack. But if the player is able to maintain positivity and keep working and performing, there may be another opportunity later. 

32:00: Tyler Black can hit and he can run, but does he have a defensive position that he could fill? 

35:15: Are there a couple of under-the-radar hitting prospects to watch?

38:55: The Last Word: Be sure to check out his blog at JeffHemPBP.wordpress.com where his pregame interviews with players and coaches. They are also available in podcast form by searching "Nashville Sounds Rounding Third." 

Thank you to Jeff Hem for his time and willingness to share information, stories and so much more. Join me in the comments to thank him for taking the time, but also feel free to ask additional questions as well. 

Interested in learning more about the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!