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Former Phillies star Jim Thome joins MLB Network

The retired slugger is taking a swing at national television.

Jim Thome is ready to take a swing at national television.

The former Phillies slugger has joined MLB Network as an analyst on the channel's various studio shows. He'll make his debut on Monday, May 1, on MLB Tonight at 6 p.m. Eastern.

After ending his playing career in 2012, Thome became a special assistant to Chicago White Sox executive Rick Hahn. That role will continue as Thome works on TV.

MLB Network first had Thome in as a guest analyst during last year's World Series, and he got a second shot this past February.

Among Thome's many new colleagues will be former teammates Sean Casey and Dan Plesac. Thome played with Casey in Cleveland in 1997, and with Plesac in Philadelphia in 2002 and 2003. (Plesac, you might recall, recorded the last out in Veterans Stadium history when he struck out Atlanta's Ryan Langerhans on Sept. 28, 2003.)

"I watch MLB Network 24/7, so this is a natural fit for me," Thome said in a statement. "I'm excited to get started and hopefully share some insight from my playing days and recent front-office experiences. Most importantly, I look forward to beating [fellow analyst] Sean Casey in a home run derby in Studio 42 and finally hitting Dan Plesac's breaking ball."