Former White Sox Trainer Suing GM & Team Over Firing

Things are getting messy off the field for the Chicago White Sox as a former athletic trainer of the team has filed a lawsuit claiming he was fired over discriminations towards his sexual orientation, age and disability. 

The lawsuit is aimed at general manager Rick Hahn and 'the club' according to the suit filed Monday in Cook County. Brian Ball is the ex-trainer who was relieved of his duties and the lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Ball mentioned the incident caused 'significant emotional and monetary damages, as well as damages to his name and reputation'.

The White Sox aren't given in to Ball as the team called the allegations 'baseless' and the organization will do whatever they can to vigorously defend their reputation. Here's what the White Sox had to say via a team statement earlier this week:

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.

The baseball team has made mention Ball was let go of his duties over performance related matters and there was no discrimination towards any of the alleged elements. Here's some more details from the court case as let's just say there's a lot to unpack here:

According to the lawsuit, White Sox management, including executive vice president Ken Williams, Hahn and assistant general manager Jeremy Haber, learned in February 2018 that Ball was gay. The suit doesn't specify how they became aware of Ball's sexual orientation. When Schneider's retirement was announced that December, Ball was promoted to head athletic trainer.

In February 2020, according to the suit, Ball was told by Haber and a senior medical adviser with the team that his position was being “altered” and he would serve in more of an administrative role. Ball "was told that he should not be giving any treatments to the players but directing the other trainers to do so,” according to the lawsuit. In July 2020, Ball was beaten by two men and his car was stolen. Following an examination by a team physician, he was placed on medical leave.

For more on the story click here. 

Photo credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports