Main League Baseball will maintain its second annual All-MLB awards present on Thursday, airing stay on MLB Community from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET. Roy Wooden Jr., host of final 12 months’s inaugural occasion, is again for a second go-round.

“I might be blissful to do that for a similar period of time that Jimmy Kimmel did the Oscars,” the comic and former “The Day by day Present” correspondent instructed CBS Sports activities. “I feel that comedy, particularly actually good comedy, particularly internet hosting, is about having a relationship with the viewers. Not the viewers at residence, the viewers within the room.” 

The awards handed out would be the All-MLB staff, the Hank Aaron Awards for finest offensive efficiency, the Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman Relievers of the 12 months, the Edgar Martinez Excellent Designated Hitter of the 12 months and the Comeback Participant of the 12 months. 

A who’s who of present gamers will likely be available, from Mookie Betts, Dylan Stop, Emmanuel Clase, William Contreras, Garrett Crochet and Jarren Duran to Ryan Helsley, Jose Iglesias, Shota Imanaga, Mason Miller, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. There will even be a gaggle of former gamers headlined by CC Sabathia, Andruw Jones, Gary Sheffield and Nick Swisher. 

Forward of the awards present, CBS Sports activities talked to Wooden about all the pieces from the very best former participant to host the occasion (David Ortiz), whether or not or not A-Rod might execute a joke and watching movie of himself from his first-year efficiency identical to the gamers do.

“I used to be simply as nervous because the gamers are since you’re unsure what you are entering into,” Wooden stated of final 12 months’s gig. “I feel on the finish of all of it, it was simply a chance for present gamers to be celebrated by their friends and their predecessors. It ended up being a very cool factor. In an odd manner, it is like an awards ceremony combined with a household reunion that’s all baseball.

“So now, understanding and figuring out what the vitality and the vibe will likely be all week, I feel I am extra geared up, from a comedic and internet hosting standpoint, to acknowledge sure issues which are taking place throughout the week. And to place the gamers and everybody in attendance comfy as a result of we’re form of constructing this factor as we go. As a comic, I’ve to get you calm to know that I am not right here to assault all people within the room and hopefully get individuals to loosen up a little bit bit.” 

As for studying from his first time round, Wooden did admit to finding out the tape.

“I feel the primary factor I took away from final 12 months is that the veterans are cool with no matter. Bartolo Colon was cool with each joke. Fred McGriff was cool with each joke. And I really feel like that is gonna be the identical sport this 12 months. I feel letting the present gamers see the vets be chill will assist to unbutton that high button,” he instructed CBS Sports activities.

“Even whenever you take a look at the precise monologue that I am beginning with this 12 months, we’re beginning with among the retired gamers and among the extra established gamers. Then you definately work your manner into the brand new guys which are form of a little bit too cool for college and hopefully by then they will see that it is a unfastened room and all the pieces is chill.” 

What about particular individuals he plans to incorporate in his jokes? 

“We have Ken Griffey within the room and Sheffield, CC Sabathia. I am speaking concerning the outdated guard. If I could make a Nick Swisher joke, I will likely be on Cloud 9,” he stated. “It begins with the individuals who have already made their cash and have already got their legend, so that they don’t have any concern of their status being tarnished. They stroll within the room already legends. So that you begin there after which you may get into Paul Skenes if you wish to.”

Talking of Skenes, no less than one joke that has been left on the reducing room ground on account of some unexpected circumstances.

“I had a joke about how Paul Skenes is the one athlete that hasn’t dissatisfied the town of Pittsburgh this 12 months, however Russell Wilson got here out and they’re 7-2 now,” Wooden stated. “Once I wrote that joke, Wilson was on the bench, so now I’ve to, like, tweak that joke a little bit bit. That one would not monitor!” 

Nonetheless, there’s loads of materials to select from.

“On one hand, I’ve to speak about Juan Soto and all the pieces he is accomplished and who he would possibly signal with,” Wooden stated. “But additionally Ryan Helsley led the NL in saves, in order that deserves to be talked about and I want to determine a joke off of that.

“The monologue is about connecting the informal fan to the sport, however you’ll be able to’t neglect concerning the die-hards. So it may possibly’t be a Shohei Ohtani fest. You possibly can discuss Ohtani, you’ll be able to speak concerning the Dodgers, however Paul Skenes had a very good season and also you in all probability did not see all of it as a result of he performed for the Pirates. I need to do a joke about William Contreras and the way fast he can throw out runners.”

Most of all, although, Wooden views the task as an annual one as a result of he appears like he is rising with the present because it establishes itself. Plus, his love for baseball runs deep. Past his fandom and final 12 months’s internet hosting gig, the Alabama native hosted a four-part “Highway to Rickwood” podcast concerning the Birmingham Black Barons and the historical past of Rickwood Discipline main as much as this summer season’s sport.

“I am not saying it is mine mine mine [as he mimics calling a fly ball] fingers off, however I do really feel like what I do know now, after internet hosting among the issues I’ve hosted, the baseball participant and the baseball fan are two of probably the most guarded individuals in the case of opening up and accepting somebody,” Wooden stated. “It is simply such a particular group to be part of it as a result of it is such a particular sport and should you do not see the fantastic thing about the sport, then I do not suppose you ought to be trusted to inform a joke about it.

“I do not suppose I am the one comic that is a baseball fan, however I do have a two-year head begin on a relationship with the gamers.” 

So the place does the present go from right here? 

“I can not converse for MLB, however my hope is that this turns into the kind of class reunion/commencement vibe occasion yearly for the gamers,” Wooden stated. “As a bunch, I get to play a job in laying the muse. So I do not take that flippantly.”