Sammy Sosa Picture 2643104

Pic caption: White-faced Sosa denies 'doing a Michael Jackson'. Dominican Republic-born former baseball star Sammy Sosa has been forced to deny bleaching his skin, after he was snapped at the Latin Grammys last week sporting a startlingly white face.. The transformation was so astonishing, many people didn't recognise the one-time Chicago Cubs pitcher in the audience at the Las Vegas ceremony.. And the furore has prompted a close friend of Sosa's to come forward and explain the story behind his new look.. Former Cubs employee Rebecca Polihronis tells the Chicago Tribune, He's not trying to be Michael Jackson.. He is going through a rejuvenation process for his skin. Women have it all of the time. He was surprised he came out looking so white. I thought it was a body double.. He 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. . . Sammy and Sonia Sosa. The 2009 Latin Recording Academy Person Of The Year held at Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel - Arrivals. Las Vegas, Nevada - 04.11.09