Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tommy Pham

Discover the career path of Tommy Pham, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Tommy Pham is a professional baseball outfielder, currently a free agent, with a lengthy MLB career. He has played for numerous teams, including the Cardinals, Rays, Padres, Reds, Red Sox, Mets, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Royals and Pirates, showcasing his adaptability and experience within the league.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2006: First Vietnamese Descent Player Since 2006

In 2006, Tommy Pham became the first person of Vietnamese descent to play in MLB since pitcher Danny Graves.

2006: Minor League Career Began

In 2006, Tommy Pham began his minor league career with the Rookie League Johnson City Cardinals, batting .231 with one home run.

2006: Selected by the Cardinals in the MLB draft

In 2006, Tommy Pham was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th round of the MLB draft, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career.

2006: Opted for Professional Baseball

In 2006, after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, Tommy Pham chose professional baseball over college, receiving a $325,000 signing bonus.

2007: Shifted to Outfield

In 2007, Tommy Pham transitioned to the outfield and played for the Low–A Batavia Muckdogs and Single–A Swing of the Quad Cities, batting .188 with two home runs.

2009: Played in High-A

In 2009, Tommy Pham batted .232 in 380 plate appearances in High-A.

September 7, 2014: First MLB Call-Up

On September 7, 2014, Tommy Pham was called up to the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time, but he struck out in his only two plate appearances that year.

2014: Strong Season in Memphis

In 2014, Tommy Pham played most of the season for Memphis, batting .324 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 104 games.

July 3, 2015: Recalled to Major League Club

On July 3, 2015, the Cardinals recalled Tommy Pham to the major league club.

2015: Postseason Debut

In 2015, Tommy Pham made his major league postseason debut as a pinch hitter in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Cubs, hitting his first career home run against Jon Lester.

2017: Exceptional Performance with the Cardinals

In 2017, Tommy Pham achieved a milestone by becoming the first Cardinals batter since 1900 to record at least a .300 batting average, 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in the same season.

2017: Rejoined the Cardinals Roster

In 2017, after a strong performance at Memphis, Tommy Pham was recalled to the Cardinals on May 5.

July 31, 2018: Traded to Tampa Bay Rays

On July 31, 2018, Tommy Pham was traded by the Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Rays, along with $500,000 of international bonus pool money, for minor leaguers Justin Williams, Génesis Cabrera, and Roel Ramírez.

2018: Starting Center Fielder

Prior to the 2018 season, the Cardinals named Tommy Pham their starting center fielder.

December 6, 2019: Traded to San Diego Padres

On December 6, 2019, Tommy Pham, along with Jake Cronenworth, was traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Hunter Renfroe, Xavier Edwards, and a player to be named later (Esteban Quiroz).

March 2020: Player to be Named Later Named

In March 2020, Esteban Quiroz was announced as the player to be named later in the trade from December 6, 2019, that sent Tommy Pham and Jake Cronenworth to the San Diego Padres.

2021: Free Agency

In 2021, Tommy Pham batted .229 with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases. On November 3, the Padres granted him free agency.

March 26, 2022: Signed with Cincinnati Reds

On March 26, 2022, Tommy Pham signed a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2023, with the Cincinnati Reds, expressing his focus on personal performance.

August 1, 2022: Traded to Boston Red Sox

On August 1, 2022, Tommy Pham was traded to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

November 10, 2022: Declined Mutual Option

On November 10, 2022, the Red Sox and Tommy Pham both declined a mutual option, making him a free agent.

January 24, 2023: Signed with New York Mets

On January 24, 2023, Tommy Pham signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the New York Mets.

August 1, 2023: Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks

On August 1, 2023, the Mets traded Tommy Pham and cash considerations to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for 17-year-old prospect Jeremy Rodriguez.