Hoard, 47, quit WXIX-TV five years ago to do play-by-play for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, his first step in pursuing a job with a major league club.

Since moving to Boston - where his wife, reporter Peg Rusconi, works for WBZ-TV - he has assembled a year-round schedule announcing minor-league baseball and University of Cincinnati football and basketball on the radio.

He did 195 games last year but only 72 were near his Boston home, where his son, Sam, turns 5 in May.

"From a professional standpoint, it's been great," said Hoard, who flies to the Red Sox' Fort Myers training camp on Saturday. "On the flip side, I'm away from home a lot. And it gets a little more difficult each year."

The International League PawSox play 45 minutes from his home, but the schedule is a grind: 144 games in 151 days.

The PawSox take a bus to their North Division games and fly commercial airlines to Louisville, Indianapolis and other West and South Division cities.

"You get up at the crack of dawn," Hoard said. "But once you get to the ballpark, it's good."

Hoard has applied for every major-league broadcast opening, including one to replace Paul Keels on Fox Sports Ohio's Reds games. Hoard hosted FSO's "Real Reds" pregame show before leaving town and did three radio games for Marty Brennaman in 2009.

But FSO hired Jim Kelch, 52, who will split time between Reds radio and TV.

"I was happy for Jim, to tell you the truth. I know the path he endured," Hoard said.

Kelch called minor-league games in Louisville for 20 years before joining the Reds radio team last year. Hoard might not be that patient.

"For most of my life, I'd say that being a Major League Baseball announcer was my dream. Now, not so much," he said. "If an opportunity came up to have more of a normal life, I'd welcome that chance."