Big-time White Sox slugger Frank Thomas has reportedly Fox Sports’ MLB team, nearly two months after the arrival of Derek Jeter on the network, with the Yankees legend set to make his broadcasting debut on the London Series in June.
The news will come out as a shock to many, as ‘The Big Hurt’ has been a part of Fox’s baseball coverage for the last nine years, following his retirement in 2008.
He regularly appeared on the network’s biggest pregame shows, centralqq including the World Series and All-Star game, working alongside Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and host Kevin Burkhardt, in recent seasons.
Jeter, who was known for being media-shy during his playing days in New York, will be starting his new role as a baseball pundit in two months’ time in the UK, before commenting on the All-Star Game in July and on postseason games in the fall.
Thomas, who’s the first White Sox star to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility (2014), also covered some pregames that Jeter will not be involved in.
Frank Thomas has reportedly been ousted from Fox Sports, nearly a decade since joining the network’s MLB coverage in 2014. Former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is replacing Thomas
The 54-year-old’s job has been in jeopardy ever since Jeter joined Fox in February, according to The New York Post, and his name wasn’t listed in the network’s analyst announcement for this season.
It has been widely believed that Thomas will not receive a compensation package for his departure from his now-former employer.
‘Frank has been an integral member of the FOX MLB studio team for nearly a decade and has helped raise the bar on our coverage while continuously growing the game of baseball,’ a Fox Sports spokesman said in a statement to The Post on Saturday.
‘Although he is not a part of our coverage this season, ‘The Big Hurt’ will always be a member of our Fox Sports family and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.’
DailyMail.com has reached to Fox Sports for further comment.
Thomas – a former first baseman and designated hitter – played 15 years for Chicago White Sox
Thomas won a World Series in Chicago in 2005 and is the only White Sox player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility (2014). Pictured vs. the A’s in 2005
Thomas – a former first baseman and designated hitter – played for three AL teams from 1990 to 2008, all but the last three years with Chicago.
A five-time All-Star, he’s the only player in MLB history to have seven consecutive seasons (1991-1997) with at least a .300 batting average, 100 runs batted in (RBI), 100 runs scored, 100 walks, and 20 home runs.
Thomas also won the AL batting title in 1997 with a .347 mark.
Thomas is also a two-time AL MVP and won a World Series in 2005 although he was injured during the regular season and World Series.