The Bowling Green Hot Rods have a radio voice, with the announcement Monday of Tom Gauthier as the team’s broadcaster for the inaugural season.

Gauthier will also serve as the team’s director of media relations, coordinating press coverage for the Class A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“It’s really cool to get a chance to be the first to do anything like this,” Gauthier said. “This is the first team here in who knows how long. It’s been a long time since Bowling Green has had a baseball team, so as a staff we get to build up this baseball community once again.

“... And from a selfish standpoint, I think it is a great thing to be the first broadcaster here. You get a chance to lay the groundwork for what this organization is going to be.”

Gauthier comes to the Hot Rods after extensive broadcast work in the northeast. Gauthier served as the assistant radio broadcaster with the Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs in 2008. Prior to that he worked with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats - which is owned by the same company as the Hot Rods - and has provided play-by-play for college basketball, football and hockey.

Gauthier said he is excited about working within a Major League Baseball franchise that is riding high after its first World Series appearance last month.

“It is a really good time to be involved in the Rays organization,” Gauthier said. “If you are a minor league fan in Bowling Green, you want to see some pretty good baseball. You want to see talented players and be able to say you saw a guy like Evan Longoria. The Rays are a great team to follow right now because the organization is stacked and only getting better.”

All 140 Hot Rods’ games will be broadcast on WBGN 1340 AM and will be streamed live on the team’s Web site at www.bghotrods.com.

The Hot Rods open the 2009 season at Hickory, N.C., on April 9 and will play its home opener in its new stadium against Kannapolis (N.C.) on April 17.

Fans can purchase official Hot Rod merchandise, season tickets and group-outing packages at the team’s administrative offices at 814 State St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or online at www.bghotrods.com.