Ernest Dove - Cyclones broadcaster Justin Rocke reflects on journey

Cyclones broadcaster Justin Rocke reflects on journey, championship run and evolving minor league landscape

For Justin Rocke, the road to calling games on Coney Island has been anything but linear.

Now entering his fourth season as the voice of the Brooklyn Cyclones, Rocke has built a career defined by movement, persistence and a deep-rooted connection to the New York Mets organization he grew up supporting.

“It feels like it was just yesterday that I started,” Rocke said. “This is going to be my fourth season with the Cyclones and my 11th year in minor league baseball.”

Rocke’s journey began in 2014 and has included stops across Florida and Tennessee, with experience spanning multiple levels of the minors. Along the way, he’s seen top prospects pass through organizations, including time with the former Kingsport Mets and St. Lucie Mets.

A Brooklyn native raised in New Jersey, returning home to work for the Cyclones carried special meaning.

“As a New York guy, I always hoped to come back home,” Rocke said. “To be with the Cyclones the last few years, especially growing up in a Mets household, it’s been a privilege.”

Calling a winner

That privilege reached another level during the 2025 season, when Brooklyn fielded one of the most dominant teams in minor league baseball.

Rocke, who had rarely experienced consistent winning earlier in his career, found himself calling playoff games for the first time.

“Last year was my 10th year in minor league baseball — it was the first time I’d ever called games in the playoffs,” he said. “I’ve called more winning with the Mets organization than I had in my previous seven or eight years combined.”

The Cyclones’ first-half performance — a 46-20 record and the best winning percentage in the minors — set the tone for a season defined by resilience and late-game heroics.

“You knew they had a chance to win every single night,” Rocke said. “It didn’t matter if they were down one run or four runs late — they had the firepower to come back.”

That group, featuring rising prospects like A.J. Ewing and others, helped establish what Rocke described as a “comeback” identity — one that carried throughout the organization as players earned promotions.

A historic season meets a historic year

The 2026 season adds another layer of significance as Brooklyn celebrates its 25th anniversary.

For Rocke, the milestone connects directly to his childhood memories of following Mets prospects and the early days of the franchise.

“To be part of the 25th anniversary campaign is really special,” he said.

The Cyclones plan to commemorate the season with a series of promotions, including a championship ring giveaway honoring the franchise’s 2001 co-title season, which was impacted by the events of September 11 attacks.

Additional initiatives include fan voting for an all-time 25th anniversary team and retro jersey giveaways celebrating the club’s early years.

“It’s been a lot of fun going through the names and the history,” Rocke said. “You remember guys who made it to the big leagues and others who were huge in Brooklyn but never quite got there.”

The challenge behind the mic

While fans hear a polished broadcast, Rocke says the preparation behind each game can be unpredictable — especially in today’s minor league environment, where roster turnover is constant.

“You can show up to the ballpark and one, two, three or four names are different,” he said. “Sometimes you’re scrambling the day of the game trying to gather as much information as possible.”

Advancements in technology have made the job easier, but challenges remain — particularly when opposing teams make last-minute changes.

“There are times you find out mid-game that someone isn’t who you thought they were,” Rocke said with a laugh. “You just have to have fun with it.”

Building relationships that last

Beyond the stats and storylines, Rocke emphasized the human side of the job — particularly the relationships formed with players and their families.

“You don’t always realize the impact you have until you hear it from them,” he said. “You’re the voice for their family and friends back home.”

Those connections often come full circle when players reach higher levels. Rocke recalled reconnecting with former players years later, including moments that highlight the lasting bond between broadcaster and athlete.

“When you get those reactions, especially when they’re not expecting to see you, it’s unforgettable,” he said.

A changing minor league landscape

As minor league baseball continues to evolve — with fewer teams and tighter roster limits — Rocke says fans are seeing more experienced players remain at levels like High-A longer than in the past.

“It’s a mix of both — depth and the new normal,” he said. “There’s just a logjam sometimes. It’s not always about performance.”

That reality has been evident in Brooklyn, where several returning players from the 2025 championship team are back to start 2026.

Rocke views it as an opportunity rather than a setback.

“The message is simple: go out there, dominate, and force their hand,” he said.

For broadcasters, the added familiarity can even be a benefit.

“It saves a lot of prep time,” Rocke said. “But more importantly, it builds trust. When new players come in and see how returning guys interact with you, that respect carries over.”

More than just a game

Rocke also works as an on-air personality for SiriusXM and has experience with outlets like WFAN, but his role in minor league baseball remains uniquely meaningful.

“I’m just calling baseball games,” he said. “But when you realize what it means to families who are thousands of miles away, it becomes something bigger.”

As the Cyclones open a milestone season, Rocke’s voice will once again serve as the bridge between the field and those listening — a role he continues to embrace with appreciation.

“It’s special,” he said. “It really is.”

To watch the full interview on The New York Mets Dove Report on YouTube @ernestdove click here