Tommy Pham is a winner.
Such confidence is only reinforced by Pham’s new manager. Pittsburgh Pirates’ Derek Shelton told The Epoch Times after an early morning team workout at their spring training headquarters in Bradenton, Florida, that he believes Pham will be an impactful player in his lineup.
“We [Pirates] really like his bat. Everything about [Tommy] makes him a winner. Our organization talked about acquiring him in past years. Hopefully, Tommy will give us a ton of at-bats.”
As last season’s postseason run began to heat up and the calendar turned to September, the Kansas City Royals showed no hesitation in claiming Pham off waivers. After being designated for assignment by the St. Louis Cardinals, and given his participation in the 2023 World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pham’s leadership qualities—as well as the pop in his bat—were just the recipe the National League club was looking for.
These are the same qualities Pirates’ General Manager Ben Cherington and his staff had in mind this year. Pham’s recent signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2025 season will be his 10th club in one dozen MLB seasons.
Pittsburgh has all the makings of a solid outfield for the upcoming season. Shelton has said that Pham will be the regular left fielder, Oneil Cruz will be in center field, and two-time all-star Bryan Reynolds will be the starting right fielder. Although Cherington has said that he has had his eye on Pham for the past couple of seasons, it was a chance meeting between former and present teammates this past winter that finally brought both parties together.
Pham was playing for Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League. Cruz, who switched last season from being the Pirates’ everyday shortstop to their center fielder, played for rival Tigres del Licey. Through a mutual friend, Jorge Polanco (and current Seattle Mariner), playing in the Dominican Republic as well, was the person Pham told he was interested in possibly playing with the Pirates for the 2025 season.
“I had options,” Pham said to The Epoch Times after a morning practice at Pirate City. “Until I played against them [Pirates] last season, I didn’t know just how potentially good they are as a team. I bring a competitive edge to my game because I’ve been spoiled. This Pirates’ team reminds me of my early years with Tampa Bay. There’s a lot to like about this team.”
With all three outfield spots practically plugged in already, the chase to land one of the two other reserve placements on Pittsburgh’s roster is highly competitive. While front-runners Jack Suwinski and Joshua Palacios are seeing their share of playing time early in the Grapefruit League schedule, DJ Stewart, Nick Yorke, and Billy Cook are among the others looking to make a splash onto the Opening Day roster.
The Pirates consist of many young talented players. Veterans such as Pham, Andrew McCutchen, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will be counted on to lead by example in the clubhouse, in speaking with the media, and in how they conduct themselves between the foul lines. This is a responsibility not foreign to Pham. He watched and learned from some of the best players the St. Louis Cardinals suited up during Pham’s first five MLB seasons.
“When I came up with St. Louis, I was lucky to be on the same teams as ‘Waino’ [pitcher Adam Wainwright], Yadi [catcher Yadier Molina], and Holliday [left fielder Matt Holliday]. As leaders, they taught us well. I learned how to get my work done, and be ready for the game.”
Passing the torch of playing sound, solid baseball is at the top of Pham’s “to-do” list with the Pirates. His desire to be a plus-defender is clear. Positioning himself in the best possible place to throw out runners is what Pham works on in camp, and taking away singles by playing shallow in left field is routine for him. Doing his best to help Pittsburgh pitchers while in the field is as much a priority for Pham, the same as when he’s looking to move runners around the bases with his bat.
Not many 16th-round draft selections have made it to the big leagues like Pham. From 2006, when signing with St. Louis, to become among the most sought-after influencers come postseason time, Pham is where he feels he could make the most positive impact.
Career-wise, there are a few accomplishments that Pham should reach in the first half of the 2025 season. He is 15 hits away from 1,000 for his MLB career. Pham also needs just 30 RBIs (runs batted in) to collect his 500th. Nine walks, and he takes his total to 500.
Energized by the possibilities in the upcoming season with his new set of teammates, Pham’s intense approach to the game is surely going to rub off on others. From helping the Diamondbacks clinch the pennant in 2023, to being a difference-maker with Kansas City last fall when the club advanced to the second round of American League postseason action, Pham gets positive results.
The “Pham effect” is something the young Pirates roster is hoping to experience come September.
