PHOENIX -- The newest voice of the Brewers arrived in Spring Training on Monday for a crash course on the team he'll be watching a lot this summer.

Cory Provus, hired last week by the Brewers' flagship radio station to replace the departed Jim Powell, will call his first game alongside booth partner Bob Uecker on Wednesday when Milwaukee hosts Oakland to start the Cactus League schedule. The 30-year-old Provus introduced himself to players before the Brewers stretched on Monday morning and began attaching personalities to the names he'd read about in the media guide.

If he was nervous, he didn't show it.

"Last night was probably the first good night of rest I've had in two months," Provus said. "There was so much anticipation of getting down here, and I knew that once I could focus on baseball, I would feel more at ease. Now I'm here and I can get to know the guys."

Provus spent the past two years working for WGN as the pre- and postgame Cubs radio host. He also called an inning a night in place of regular play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes.

Before that, Provus called baseball, football and basketball for the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He graduated from Syracuse University in 2000.

Provus counts Hughes among his greatest influences, and now is following in his footsteps. Hughes spent 12 years in the Brewers' radio booth with Uecker before taking the Cubs' play-by-play job with WGN and opening the seat for Powell in 1996.

"I love [Hughes'] style," Provus said. "He's got that throwback style that I think resonates with folks who have been following baseball for 50-60 years, but also to a newer generation. ... I think Pat is one of the best ever."

Powell vacated his seat last month for a job calling games for his home-state Braves. Provus plans to continue at least one of Powell's traditions, and is already studying up on Milwaukee's Minor League chain. Powell was known for his near-encyclopedic knowledge of Brewers affiliates.

"I think that's a responsibility I have to take on and continue," Provus said. "When you're on for a passionate fan base like the Brewers', they want to know about more than just the 25 guys in the big league dugout."

The Brewers Radio Network will air 19 weekend, weeknight and select mid-week games this spring, up from an average of 12 on-air radio broadcasts in previous seasons. Games not aired on radio will be available via Brewers.com webcast with TV broadcasters Brian Anderson and Bill Schroeder on the call.