Tommy Pham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tommy Pham |
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Pham with the New York Mets in 2023
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| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 28 | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: March 8, 1988 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 9, 2014, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics (through July 27, 2025) |
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| Batting average | .258 | ||
| Hits | 1,047 | ||
| Home runs | 143 | ||
| Runs batted in | 498 | ||
| Stolen bases | 129 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Thomas James Pham (born March 8, 1988) is an American professional baseball outfielder. He plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played for many other MLB teams. These include the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals.
Pham was chosen by the Cardinals in the 2006 MLB draft. He faced several injuries and vision problems early in his career. He overcame his vision issues with special contact lenses. These lenses gave him very clear vision. In 2017, Pham made history for the Cardinals. He was the first player since 1900 to hit over .300, with 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in one season.
Contents
- Early Life and Baseball Start
- Professional Baseball Journey
- Personal Life
Early Life and Baseball Start
Pham was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. His mother worked very hard to raise him and his twin sister, Brittany. She had jobs as a busser, casino waitress, and bakery worker. When he was two, doctors thought he might have rickets. He wore leg braces for about a year and a half.
Pham went to several high schools in Las Vegas. He played baseball as a pitcher and infielder. In his senior year, he was named the best player in his class. He hit very well, with a .581 batting average. He was also a strong pitcher.
Pham first planned to play college baseball at the University of Arizona. Then he changed his mind to Cal State Fullerton. But he decided to go straight to professional baseball instead. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in 2006. He received a good signing bonus, which is money given to a player when they sign with a team.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Pham began his professional career in 2006. He played for the Rookie League Johnson City Cardinals. He started as a shortstop but moved to the outfield in 2007.
He faced many injuries during his time in the minor leagues. In 2010, he fractured his wrist. In 2011, he tore a wrist ligament. In 2012, he tore a shoulder labrum. Then in 2013, he tore his other labrum. Despite these setbacks, he kept working hard. In 2014, he played well for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. He hit .324 with 10 home runs.
Major League Debut with the Cardinals
Pham was called up to the major leagues for the first time on September 7, 2014. He played his first MLB game with the St. Louis Cardinals.
2015 Season Highlights
Pham started the 2015 season in Memphis. He missed the first two months due to a leg injury. When he returned, he played very well. He was even named the best defensive outfielder in his league.
The Cardinals called him back to the major leagues in July 2015. He got his first major league hit, a double, on July 4. The next day, he hit his first major league home run. He also drove in three runs, helping the Cardinals win. Later that season, he hit two home runs in one game. The Cardinals won their division that year. Pham even hit a home run in his first ever postseason game.
2016 and 2017 Seasons
Pham made the Cardinals' team for Opening Day in 2016. But he got injured during batting practice. He returned later in the season. In 2016, he played 78 games for the Cardinals.
In 2017, Pham started the season in the minor leagues again. But he was called up to the Cardinals in May. He became the team's starting right fielder. He had an amazing season, hitting .306 with 23 home runs, 73 runs batted in (RBI), and 25 stolen bases. He was the first Cardinals player in over 100 years to achieve these numbers in one season. He was also one of the top players in the league. People started calling his great play "Pham-tastic."
2018 Season
Pham became the Cardinals' starting center fielder in 2018. During a practice session, his bat accidentally hit him in the forehead. He was okay and returned to play a few games later. He played 98 games for the Cardinals that year.
Moving to the Tampa Bay Rays
On July 31, 2018, the Cardinals traded Pham to the Tampa Bay Rays. Soon after joining the Rays, he fractured his foot. He returned in August and quickly started playing well. He hit his first home run as a Ray in August. In September, he was named to the MLB team of the month. He hit .368 with five home runs for the Rays.
In 2019, Pham had a great streak, reaching base in 40 straight games. This was the longest streak in Rays history. He also hit his first career grand slam. He was known for getting many infield hits. He also had a perfect fielding percentage as a left fielder.
Time with the San Diego Padres
In December 2019, Pham was traded to the San Diego Padres. The 2020 season was shorter due to the pandemic. Pham played 31 games that year. He had surgery on his left hand in August 2020. Later, he had another surgery on his left wrist.
In 2021, Pham played 155 games for the Padres. He hit 15 home runs and stole 14 bases. After the season, he became a free agent.
Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox
Pham signed with the Cincinnati Reds in March 2022. He played 91 games for them. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in August 2022. He played 53 games for the Red Sox. Overall in 2022, he hit 17 home runs and had 63 RBIs.
New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks
In January 2023, Pham signed with the New York Mets. He became their starting left fielder. Many people thought his signing was a great move for the team. He played 79 games for the Mets, hitting 10 home runs.
On August 1, 2023, the Mets traded Pham to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in 54 games for the Diamondbacks. The team had a fantastic run and won the National League pennant, making it to the World Series. After the season, he became a free agent.
Recent Teams: White Sox, Cardinals, Royals, Pirates
On April 15, 2024, Pham signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He quickly joined their major league roster. In 70 games for Chicago, he hit five home runs.
On July 29, 2024, the White Sox traded Pham back to the St. Louis Cardinals. In his first at-bat back with the Cardinals, he hit a grand slam! He played 23 games for St. Louis before being moved to another team.
On August 31, 2024, the Kansas City Royals claimed Pham. He played 23 games for Kansas City.
In February 2025, Pham signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was his eighth team in three years. On April 26, 2025, Pham hit a double for his 1,000th career hit in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Personal Life
Tommy Pham has both African American and Vietnamese heritage. He is the first player of Vietnamese descent to play in MLB since 2006.
Pham has a rare eye condition called keratoconus. This condition affects his vision. He started having vision problems in 2008. Since 2009, he has worn special contact lenses that help him see very clearly.
