Injury Ends Thomas’ Season

Frank Thomas has a torn muscle in his right arm, and the Chicago White Sox said Thursday he probably will sit out the rest of the season.

Thomas, 32, will have surgery next week. He suffered the triceps injury diving for a ground ball against the Seattle Mariners on April 27.

An MRI exam taken Thursday revealed the tear. Thomas has not played since he was hurt and returned to the team Wednesday after spending five days in Columbus, Ga., following the death of his father.

“Frank came in yesterday and felt better,” trainer Herm Schneider said. “He worked out and took some swings in the batting cage. The batting session did not go well. The swings caused him some pain and he showed excessive swelling afterward.

“The MRI done this morning showed a conclusive tear, although the size and the severity will only be determined and repaired by exploratory surgery. The first MRI done the night of the injury did not show the damage as clearly or as definitively as today’s because of trauma in the area. We expect this to be season-ending.”

Thomas, a two-time American League most valuable player, played in 20 games this season, hitting four homers with 10 runs batted in. He hit .328 last season with 43 homers and 143 RBIs.

Also, the White Sox learned that left-hander Jim Parque will have surgery on his left shoulder Tuesday.

Parque, a 13-game winner last season, was 0-3 this year with an 8.04 ERA and had experienced a drop in velocity. He earlier underwent an MRI, and his sore shoulder was re-examined Thursday.

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Third baseman Vinny Castilla was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, two days after he was benched for not advancing a baserunner.

Castilla, who asked to be traded or released last month after being benched, was hitting .215 with two homers and nine RBIs.

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Outfielder Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees might have to return to Puerto Rico soon to support his ailing father.

Williams missed 10 games last month to be with his father, Bernabe Williams Sr., who is suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition that has gotten worse in recent years.

“If it happens, it happens,” Manager Joe Torre said of Williams leaving the team. “I can’t think about it. I don’t know what I can do with it.”

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Fans in the Metrodome’s general admission area won’t be able to buy beer from vendors in those sections of the Minnesota Twins’ home stadium, and there will be a substantial increase in security because of the misbehavior of some spectators.

Last week, 60 people were ejected for throwing objects at former Twin Chuck Knoblauch, who was playing left field for the Yankees.

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Former Cleveland Indian right-hander Chad Ogea was signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees. Ogea, who won two World Series games for the Indians in 1997, has not pitched in the majors since 1999 because of a shoulder injury.