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Zach LaVine reportedly will undergo surgery after struggling with soreness and swelling in his left knee throughout the 2021-22 season.LaVine will undergo arthroscopic surgery to address the injury — which flared up in January — and is expected to fully recover this summer, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.AdvertisementLaVine previously tore the ACL in his left knee in 2017, creating further concern about any discomfort. He missed the final two games before the All-Star break to receive treatment, which included injections of cortisone and platelet-rich plasma.Although LaVine played through the injury after the All-Star break, the discomfort significantly limited his movement and forced the Chicago Bulls star to take games off throughout the latter third of the season.AdvertisementLaVine started the season with injury concerns after he tore a ligament in his thumb. Those misfortunes continued through the final game of the postseason, which the guard missed after testing positive for COVID-19 for the third time in the last year.Despite juggling injuries and illness, LaVine recorded a stalwart season for the Bulls alongside DeMar DeRozan, earning his second-straight All-Star selection while averaging 24.4 points and 4.5 assists.LaVine wouldn’t commit to a Chicago return next season during his exit interview in April. He hits the market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time this summer on the heels of his eighth NBA season — and first winning season.“I’ve been here for the past five years. I have to do this as a business decision, as a man, just to not be viewing it one way,” LaVine said. “It’s unrestricted free agency. For my family, for me, I have to go and look at this as a decision where I have to be open-eyed. I have to make my list and talk to everybody.”

After splitting the season-opening homestand, the Chicago Sky have proven they can contend with any team in the WNBA once their full roster is available. AdvertisementThe Sky committed 25 turnovers and shot 31.8% on 3-pointers and still were in the driver’s seat against the Los Angeles Sparks in the opener. If it wasn’t for a phantom foul at the end of regulation, Chicago could very well be at the top of the standings after blowing out the New York Liberty by 33 points Wednesday.Here are some takeaways from how the Sky have played so far in 2022.AdvertisementWhen Emma Meesseman landed in Chicago, it was unclear how coach and general manager James Wade would ensure she and last year’s starters got enough minutes. With Allie Quigley not practicing full-court in training camp and Kahleah Copper finishing her overseas season in Spain, Wade has experimented with a lineup featuring Azurá Stevens, Meesseman and Candace Parker — all of whom are 6-foot-4 or taller.The early results with that front court have been superb.In a small 28-minute sample size, the trio has outscored opponents by 19 while limiting them to 31.9% from the field. The fluidity they have displayed by stretching the floor and creating opportunities for teammates is something the rest of the league will have to figure out. A good example of this came against the Liberty when Courtney Vandersloot found Meesseman at half court in transition. Meesseman drove to the free-throw line, attracted the attention of two defenders and found a trailing Stevens, who hit an open 3. Bigs typically don’t have that type of malleability in their roles yet the Sky have three of them.“I’ve played against Emma for years and it sucks guarding her,” Parker said. “The way in which she reads, the pace that she plays with and her IQ is going to make our chemistry continue to get better.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 21Coach James Wade with Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Azura Stevens, Allie Quigley and Emma Meesseman at Chicago Sky media day on May 3, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)The Sky could easily be 2-0 right now if two of their top-six players were available. Quigley has been hampered with a knee injury that has kept her from practicing extensively until this week. Copper won EuroLeague MVP and is finishing up her commitment overseas. Wade has been forced to lean on his veterans, and playing overtime May 6 didn’t help.However, reinforcements are on the way. Quigley is expected to make her season debut Saturday. Copper should be back in the United States in the next week. The Sky’s depth will be bolstered by Julie Allemand making her return to the WNBA after a brief hiatus and 6-foot-7 center Li Yueru joins from the Chinese Basketball Association.In 2020, Allemand became the first player drafted in the third round to make the All-Rookie team. She was second in the league in assists behind Vandersloot that season and shot 47.5% on 3-pointers. The Sky will rely on Allemand to be a combo guard who can back up Quigley and Vandersloot. The Belgian could turn into the Sky’s point guard of the future, but in the short-term Chicago is going to need Allemand to play 20-25 minutes of efficient basketball every night.Advertisement“This is a long season and she’s going to be really good here,” Wade said. “Her playing alongside Dana (Evans), Rebekah (Gardner) and Sloot, she is going to be good. We need as many good players as we can have.”Yueru has been compared to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal (some have called her “Female O’Neal”). The Sky’s front court with Meesseman, Parker and Stevens has looked solid so far but Yueru will provide insurance against bigger front courts this season. She isn’t a prototypical big for Wade’s offense, but Stef Dolson and Astou Ndour-Fall’s physical presence down low last postseason proved to be vital. Chicago could utilize Yueru in a similar role.When the Sky were forced to waive newly-acquired forward Crystal Bradford because of an offseason injury, they were left with a void behind Copper. Two games into the season, it appears Wade has found the solution to his problem.Gardner, 31, made her WNBA debut against the Liberty and looked electric scoring in isolation. She scored 14 points and finished with a +20 plus/minus on the night. There were few available wings on the market at Gardner’s pricepoint and the Sky struck gold after being limited by the salary cap.“I know the league is small and there aren’t a lot of opportunities,” Gardner said. “There’s a lot of great players who are not in the WNBA but I used this opportunity to come out and take it.”Gardner went undrafted out of UCLA in 2012 but kept playing overseas. Wade lives in southern France and saw her play against WNBA talent, proving herself against Copper, Diamond DeShields, Arike Ogunbowale and Gabby Williams. AdvertisementEven though Gardner didn’t make it to training camp, Wade felt he knew what he had in Gardner to keep her on the roster. She has answered her first call and will be integral part of the second unit moving forward.James Kay is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Rich Strike, the 80-1 long shot who thrilled the racing world with his late charge to victory in the Kentucky Derby, will skip the Preakness, owner Rick Dawson said.Dawson said he and trainer Eric Reed originally planned to run Rich Strike in the Derby and come back five weeks later for the Belmont Stakes.Advertisement“Obviously, with our tremendous effort & win in the Derby, it’s very, very tempting to alter our course & run in the Preakness at Pimlico, which would be a great honor for all our group,” Dawson said in a statement provided by Preakness organizers. “However, after much discussion & consideration with my trainer, Eric Reed & a few others, we are going to stay with our plan of what’s best for Ritchie is what’s best for our group, and pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward the Belmont in approximately 5 weeks.”Reed had indicated since the morning after the Derby that he expected to enter Rich Strike in the Preakness if he held up well in training. In an update from his home track in Kentucky on Wednesday, Reed said: “Everything seems good.”AdvertisementThe decision to skip the Preakness is unusual but not unprecedented. Country House, who won the 2019 Derby after Maximum Security was disqualified, did not travel to the Preakness because of a cough and never raced again. Before his defection, it had been 23 years since a Derby champion failed to take a shot at the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Wednesday’s postponed Chicago White Sox-Cleveland Guardians game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader July 23 at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Sox announced Thursday.Game 1, the makeup game, will start at 12:10 p.m. The regularly scheduled contest, Game 2, begins at 6:15 p.m.AdvertisementThe May 11 postponed game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Saturday, July 23. Game 1, the makeup game, will begin at 12:10 p.m. CT and the regularly scheduled contest, Game 2, will start at 6:15 p.m.— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 12, 2022

Game tickets, parking and Huntington Bank Stadium Club passes from the postponement will be honored only for the 12:10 p.m. makeup game, the Sox said. Fans don’t need to exchange game tickets, parking passes or Stadium Club passes to attend the rescheduled game, the Sox said.Wednesday’s game was postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests in the Guardians organization. It was the first coronavirus-related postponement of the 2022 MLB season.

The Chicago Bears will announce their 2022 schedule Thursday night as the NFL releases its full slate of games for the upcoming season.NFL Network will air a schedule-release show at 7 p.m., with multiple players, coaches and analysts as guests.AdvertisementThe Bears already had their home and road opponents set.Along with playing NFC North games against the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions Soldier Field and away, the Bears will host the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans. They will travel to face the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New York Jets, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons.AdvertisementDates and times for those games — including how many the Bears will play in prime time under new coach Matt Eberflus — will be revealed. The Bears had four games in prime time last season.After the announcement, single-game tickets for the preseason and regular season will go on sale at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at chicagobears.com/tickets.Along with the NFL’s show, teams typically take to social media to announce their schedules in creative ways, often in coordination with sponsors. The Bears partnered with Benjamin Moore in 2021 to create a paint-themed release.The games often are leaked on social media throughout the day, so check back for updates.

“Bro, there ain’t gonna be any home runs today.”Those were the famous last words of Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito after Dylan Cease predicted Tim Anderson was about to go yard last week at Wrigley Field.AdvertisementGiolito’s statement made perfect sense.It was cold and rainy, with a 23 mph wind blowing in from the north for the opening game of the City Series. Leading off the third inning, Anderson faced Keegan Thompson, who had not yielded a home run in 17⅔ innings entering the inning.AdvertisementBut Cease was undeterred.“I believe in him,” Cease told Giolito. “I’m going to go ‘Home run over the Sloan (sign) in right field. Oppo home run.’”Anderson quickly grabbed hold of a cut fastball on the first pitch and delivered it over the Sloan ad in right field. As the Sox dugout celebrated, Cease shook his head.“I die a legend now,” he said. “That’s all I can say.”The serendipitous moment was captured on video for posterity and might have to go into a 2022 time capsule if the Sox make it to the World Series. Cease had been mic’d up for the NBC Sports Chicago telecast and knew his words would be remembered.But anyone can predict a home run before a teammate’s at-bat and be right once in a while. Predicting exactly where Anderson’s would land at Wrigley made Cease into “Soxtradamus.” On his Instagram account, Cease boldly called it the “greatest called shot since Babe Ruth” before asking: “What should I predict next??”Everything seems to be going right for Cease these days.As he prepared for Thursday’s start in the opener of a big four-game series with the New York Yankees, the 26-year-old was tied for the American League lead with 47 strikeouts, compiling 28 over his last 18 innings. He had a 1.50 ERA over those three starts, dominating from the outset.Advertisement“Feels great,” Cease said during a recent sit-down in the Sox dugout. “If anything it’s just a big confidence booster to know the process we’re following is working. It’s just a continuation (of 2021), another year of experience, getting used to how you prepare and what you’re going to experience.”The White Sox knew Cease had this in him. He was, after all, the Cubs’ top pitching prospect when acquired in the Eloy Jiménez deal in summer 2017. But command issues early in his career were a real concern. Even after he made 12 starts in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Sox didn’t trust him to start in the postseason series against the Oakland Athletics. Manager Rick Renteria wasted Cease for an inning of middle relief in Game 2 before employing the rest of the bullpen in the disastrous Game 3 loss that led to Renteria’s exit.Cease cut his walk rate from 5.2 per 9 innings to 3.7 last season, going 13-7 with 226 strikeouts, third in the American League and tied for eighth-highest in franchise history. He called 2021 “the first year I sort of consistently proved” himself.But in his postseason start against the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the AL Division Series, Cease was yanked by manager Tony La Russa with two outs in the third after walking his third hitter of the inning. The Sox trailed 3-1 in a must-win game, and La Russa had no patience for Cease’s control issues.It was a disappointing ending to an otherwise successful season, and now Cease is building on those lessons and evolving into one of the league’s most feared starters.Chicago White Sox cheer for starter Dylan Cease (84) in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels, May 2, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)“This is the first year where I feel like I’m bringing out my best self a majority of the time now,” he said, adding the support he has received from Sox fans “definitely is hyping me up.”AdvertisementWith Lance Lynn rehabbing from right knee surgery, Cease’s performance has become integral to the Sox staying above water in the Central. And with Giolito entering his walk season in 2023 without a realistic extension offer, the Sox might be counting on Cease and Michael Kopech to anchor the rotation down the road.Kopech led all starters Wednesday with a 0.93 ERA. Cease was third in strikeouts per 9 innings with 12.4.“They’ve both been everything that we could have asked for thus far into the season,” general manager Rick Hahn said Monday. “Dylan obviously was a little farther ahead (this spring) than Michael … but Dylan has continued to do what we saw for the bulk of the second half of last season, and that’s establishing himself as one of the elite starters in this league.”The future looks bright for Cease, who not only has lived up to the early hype but watched the video of his “Called Shot 2.0″ at Wrigley Field go viral.“It definitely blew up for a day or two after,” he said with a grin. “I haven’t heard much about it since. I truly don’t know what happened. I blurted it out, and then a half-second later — bang — it happened. It was weird.”After establishing a reputation as a soothsayer, Cease has been asked by some to make predictions on the spot. He has declined to do that so far but reserves the right to make more predictions when the time is right.Advertisement“We’ve got to save them until it really matters,” he said. “If I feel something real strong, maybe I’ll throw something out there. But for now we’re saving it.”

SAN DIEGO — Fourteen miles south of Alfonso Rivas’ hometown, the Chicago Cubs needed a clutch hit from the 25-year-old first baseman.If Rivas felt any pressure this week playing in front of family and friends at Petco Park, he certainly didn’t show it.AdvertisementOne day after connecting on a two-run homer, Rivas had an opportunity to salvage a victory for the Cubs in Wednesday’s series final after the bullpen squandered a late lead. Rivas hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to break the tie. Right-hander Rowan Wick’s two-inning save secured the Cubs’ 7-5 win.The Cubs took two of three in San Diego for their first series win since opening weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers. Manager David Ross lauded Rivas’ approach.Advertisement“He’s really handling the moment well,” Ross said. “He’s got such a calm demeanor about him and that’s why he looks so smooth at first and in the box. There’s not a lot to his swing. He’s just trying to put the barrel on the ball.”The Cubs, however, can’t seem to avoid injuries lately. Left-handed reliever Sean Newcomb on Wednesday became the 13th player on the injured list with a left ankle sprain suffered in the outfield Sunday during batting practice. Losing shortstop Nico Hoerner for any notable time would be tough to overcome, especially defensively. Hoerner was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain after exiting the game in the bottom of the second inning. Initial imaging didn’t reveal any broken bones, though the swelling around his ankle must decrease before the Cubs can determine the severity. Ross believes Hoerner will be OK after a couple of days off.Hoerner collided with second-base umpire Dan Iassogna in shallow right-center field during Jurickson Profar’s triple in the first inning.Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner, center, walks with a trainer after colliding with umpire Dan Iassogna, right, during the first inning of a game against the Padres on Wednesday at Petco Park in San Diego. (Gregory Bull / AP)Hoerner, shifted in shallow right for the at-bat, started running to his position as the cutoff man while Iassogna began moving toward shallow center to get a clearer view of Jason Heyward’s play on the ball. Iassogna and Hoerner never saw each other while watching the ball, resulting in their feet getting tangled and knocking both to the ground.Via a pool reporter, Iassogna said his collision with Hoerner was the first time that occurred in the outfield during his career. Iassogna’s assignment as the second-base umpire requires him to go out toward the ball so he can determine whether it’s a catch, home run or anything in between.He spoke with Ross to see how Hoerner was doing and planned to check on him after the game. Iassogna hopes Hoerner won’t land on the injured list because of the play.“I’m always trying to do the same thing. I’m seeing the ball and trying to pick up the fielder,” Iassogna said. “When I made my initial look I didn’t see anybody. I thought I had an open road and then we backed into each other.Advertisement“I didn’t know who it was or what happened until I looked down and saw it was him.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Hoerner initially remained in the game, striking out in the top of the second. Ildemaro Vargas replaced him when the Cubs returned to the field for the bottom of the inning. When the injury occurred, Hoerner initially wasn’t optimistic, but he felt better after getting treatment on the ankle during the game.“In the shift and things like that sometimes we’re in different places than people are used to,” Hoerner said. “I was watching the ball just like the umpire was and I was on the ground before I really realized what happened. We’re doing our jobs and weird things happen sometimes.”Willson Contreras’ strong start continued with an opposite-field solo home run in the first inning. The Cubs tacked on four runs in the third thanks to Patrick Wisdom (RBI single), Frank Schwindel (two-run double to cap an 11-pitch at-bat) and Jason Heyward (RBI single) coming through with runners on base against Padres starter Nick Martinez.Home runs by Eric Hosmer and Luke Voit, the latter’s second of the game, in seventh set up the need for Rivas’ big hit the next inning.“You have a plan, you have an approach and stick to that, don’t really freak out or anything that,” Rivas said. “That’s what I was really trying to hammer down, and I got a good pitch to hit.”AdvertisementKeegan Thompson received the phone call around 11 p.m. Tuesday to learn he was getting the start for the Cubs bullpen game. He stuck to his typical warmup routine, not wanting to deviate from what has been working for him. Thompson held the Padres to two runs in four innings.“I started with the same mindset as a bullpen outing,” Thompson said. “I don’t want to change something up today for one outing.”

Dana Evans scored 15 points, Rebekah Gardner added 14 and the Chicago Sky cruised past the New York Liberty 83-50 on Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena.The Sky led 36-17 at halftime after holding the Liberty to 20% shooting, including 1 of 12 from 3-point range. It was the lowest point total in a half since the Connecticut Sun had 15 on Sept. 1, 2015.AdvertisementThe Sky opened the third quarter with a 13-4 run to take a 28-point lead at 49-21, and the Liberty reached 50 points on Jocelyn Willoughby’s layup with 20.2 seconds left in the game.Candace Parker added 11 points and Emma Meesseman scored 10 for the defendingchampion Sky (1-1). Parker and Meesseman each had six rebounds and four assists.AdvertisementThe Sky were 10 of 22 from 3-point range, with three apiece from Evans and Parker, while the Liberty were just 20 of 60 from the field.Han Xu, the tallest player in the WNBA at 6-foot-10, scored 10 points for the Liberty (1-1). Natasha Howard and Betnijah Laney each scored eight points, and Stefanie Dolson scored six against her former team. Sabrina Ionescu was held to two points.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 21Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker (3), center, hugs a Los Angeles Sparks coach after a 98-91 overtime loss to the Sparks at Wintrust Arena on May 6, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 21Coach James Wade with Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Azura Stevens, Allie Quigley and Emma Meesseman at Chicago Sky media day on May 3, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 23Chicago Sky players, including MVP Kahleah Copper, celebrate after winning the WNBA championship on Oct. 17, 2021, at Wintrust Arena. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

SAN DIEGO — For a moment Wednesday morning at Petco Park, Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki gave a glimpse of how he might have looked wearing a different major-league jersey.Suzuki met San Diego Padres and former Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish behind the plate to exchange jerseys, both signing theirs for the keepsake. At one point, Suzuki held up Darvish’s white pinstriped jersey against him — a visual of an alternate outcome had Suzuki chosen to sign with the Padres over the Cubs.AdvertisementWednesday’s pregame jersey exchange before the Cubs’ 7-5 win — they took two of three for their first series victory since the opening weekend of the season — followed an on-field chat between the Japanese stars during batting practice.Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki, left, and San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish exchange jerseys before a game Wednesday at Petco Park in San Diego. (Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune)The sunny, mid-60s weather gave Darvish a trash-talking opportunity he wasn’t going to pass up. The three-game series was among the best outdoor environment the Cubs have played in the last five weeks, especially compared with the cold, rainy elements they’ve endured too often at Wrigley Field.AdvertisementDarvish couldn’t help but joke about it with Suzuki.“Hey, do you like the warm weather here?” Darvish playfully asked him Monday.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Suzuki has not seen Darvish pitch in person, limited to watching his starts on TV. He’s looking forward to when that day comes. Suzuki might not have to wait much longer. The Cubs just missed facing Darvish this week in San Diego. The right-hander makes his next start Friday in Atlanta following the Padres’ off day Thursday.If the Padres don’t change the rotation order and he remains on a five-day schedule, Darvish should face the Cubs at Wrigley Field during a four-game series June 13-16.“I want to make sure I could get a hit off him,” Suzuki said, smiling, through interpreter Toy Matsushita. “Because at this moment, he’s going to get me out.”Darvish told Suzuki before Monday’s series opener that he would like to play on the same team together if there someday is a chance for that to happen. He could have pushed harder for Suzuki to sign with the Padres, but Darvish helped lead the right fielder to Chicago. Darvish spoke positively of his three seasons (2018-20) with the Cubs when the two met March 11 in San Diego before Darvish left to report to spring training in Arizona.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 35Seiya Suzuki celebrates in the Cubs dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the game against the Brewers at Wrigley Field on April 10, 2022. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)After Suzuki signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Cubs in March, Joel Wolfe of Wasserman, who represents both players, recalled Darvish’s message to Suzuki centered on wanting the best for him, even if that meant they wouldn’t be teammates.Suzuki did not start for a second consecutive game because of right ankle soreness suffered in Monday’s game. Although they didn’t face each other during the three-game series at Petco Park, Suzuki clearly got a kick out of sharing a major-league field with Darvish.Advertisement“He’s a good influence on me, and I feel that he’s like a superstar — just the fact that he knows me is something that I’m very honored for,” Suzuki said. “At this point, it’s a learning process for me. So I want to experience it and then learn it from my own mindset. But if there is something that concerns me or that I want to ask Yu, then I would ask him.”

Former Chicago White Sox head athletic trainer Brian Ball on Monday filed a lawsuit in Cook County against the team and general manager Rick Hahn, alleging unlawful termination in October 2020 because of his sexual orientation, age and disability.Ball, 50, worked with the Sox for 20 seasons — including serving as a member of the training staff for the 2005 World Series championship team — and was promoted to head trainer in December 2018.AdvertisementHe is seeking declaratory, punitive and monetary damages to be determined. According to the lawsuit, Ball is “no longer employed… as a certified athletic trainer.”“The Chicago White Sox organization categorically denies the baseless allegations made by former Head Trainer Brian Ball in his lawsuit against the club,” the Sox said in a statement released Tuesday. “It is extremely disappointing that a former colleague, who was supported, developed and promoted over two decades, chose to attack the club in this way. It is also surprising to many who know Brian, and supported him throughout his career, to read the allegations included in his lawsuit.”AdvertisementAccording to the lawsuit, in February 2018 it became known to White Sox management, including Executive Vice President Ken Williams and Hahn, coaches and medical staff that Ball is gay.Ball was the victim of a carjacking on July 17, 2020, according to the lawsuit, and soon after was placed on medical leave. The lawsuit states Ball was told he would need to see a psychologist as part of the conditions for his return to work. Ball received medical clearance Aug. 28, according to the lawsuit, but his request to return was denied.Ball’s lawsuit alleges Hahn in September 2020 “made continuous statements to other athletic training-strength conditional personnel that Brian Ball had either a gambling, alcohol or drug addiction that was related to the July carjacking. None of those accusations were or are true.”On Oct. 26, according to the lawsuit, Ball was told he was being fired and received a separation agreement the next day with an Oct. 31 termination date. Ball signed the separation agreement on Nov. 7, 2020, according to the lawsuit.Ball’s lawsuit states that on Dec. 27 a “White Sox management level representative” contacted Ball and that “based on a knowledgeable White Sox senior management representative disclosure, (Ball’s) termination… was based on his sexual orientation.”“The Chicago White Sox are unified against discrimination in any form and support anti-discrimination laws that provide protection to those wronged by an employer,” the Sox said in part of their statement. “Those laws are essential to protecting anyone who has been victimized by discrimination and to creating a culture of empowerment and opportunity for all individuals. Brian’s dismissal from the organization was based on his performance and did not run afoul of any of the protections afforded to employees under the law.”AdvertisementJames Kruk was promoted to head athletic trainer in January 2021.