Sosa's light skin due to 'rejuvenation'

CHICAGO, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa's skin appears lighter because he's undergoing a skin rejuvenation process, a friend says.

A recent photograph of Sosa at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas surprised viewers because his skin tone appears much lighter, The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday. But former Cubs employee and Sosa friend Rebecca Polihronis said the player isn't trying to "be Michael Jackson."

"He is going through a rejuvenation process for his skin," Polihronis told the newspaper. "Women have it all of the time. He was surprised he came out looking so white. I thought it was a body double. Part of (the photo appearance) is just the lighting."

Polihronis said Sosa "is in the middle of doing a cleansing process to his skin. The picture is deceiving. He said, 'If you saw me in person, you would be surprised. When you see me in person, it is not going to seem like the picture.' People who saw him in person did not react the same way. He can't believe it is such a big deal."