The MLB Home Run Derby was supposed to be about baseball. Instead, it turned into another night of Pat McAfee, and not everyone was thrilled. Longtime ESPN veteran Trey Wingo chimed in after fans voiced frustration over the network’s nonstop reliance on its loudest voices.
Trey Wingo Criticizes ESPN’s Heavy Reliance on Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee
McAfee had a full plate during ESPN’s Derby coverage. He introduced players, hosted panels, and generally took over the broadcast. While it wasn’t a surprise to regular viewers, many baseball fans were left wondering: why is an NFL guy everywhere during an MLB event?
It wasn’t just casual fans noticing. A tweet from reporter Nick Field, saying ESPN used to air sports without constantly featuring McAfee or Stephen A. Smith, went viral almost instantly.
Wingo saw it. And he didn’t disagree.
“Let me preface this by saying I have so many wonderful memories and so many great friends still working there that I want to succeed… but he’s right,” Wingo posted on X. “It used to be a glorious buffet where you could pick and choose what you wanted. Now it’s like a banquet dinner: chicken or fish?”
Let me preface this by saying I have so many wonderful memories and so many great friends still working there that I want to succeed… but he’s right. It used to be a glorious buffet where you could pick and choose what you wanted. Now it’s like a banquet dinner: chicken or fish? https://t.co/xYxFPPdUfi
— trey wingo (@wingoz) July 15, 2025
That comment hit home for a lot of fans. The feeling that ESPN has narrowed its identity around just a few big names isn’t new, but hearing it from someone who spent over two decades inside the building carries weight.
Smith, fresh off a major contract extension, has long been ESPN’s NBA face and could be expanding into more NFL talk this season. McAfee, meanwhile, decided at the last minute to be involved in the All-Star festivities, and ESPN did not hesitate to put him front and center.
“Kids today don’t realize it, but you used to be able to turn on ESPN and not see Stephen A. Smith or Pat McAfee,” Field had written. “They were glorious times.”
Wingo’s response was rooted in his own experience. He worked at ESPN for more than two decades, from 1997 to 2020, contributing to shows like SportsCenter, NFL Live, and NFL Primetime.
Of course, ESPN continues to spotlight its most prominent personalities, but the reaction to Monday night’s broadcast has sparked renewed discussion about the network’s current approach. With Wingo now joining the chorus of critics, ESPN may find itself facing even more voices in the ongoing debate.
