History of Tommy Pham in Timeline
Thomas James Pham is an American professional baseball outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. At 6'1" and 210 pounds, he has also played for the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago White Sox.
1900: Historical Milestone
In 1900, a Cardinals batter achieved a .300 average, 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in a single season, a feat unmatched until Pham in 2017.
1900: Historic Batting Achievement
Pham's 2017 season mirrored a historic achievement from 1900, showcasing his exceptional batting skills.
March 8, 1988: Birth of Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham was born on March 8, 1988.
2006: Drafted by the Cardinals
In 2006, Tommy Pham was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th round of the MLB draft.
2006: Chooses Professional Baseball Over College
Pham decided to pursue a professional baseball career instead of attending college after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
2006: Pham Makes History as First Vietnamese-Descent Player Since 2006
Tommy Pham made history as the first person of Vietnamese descent to play in MLB since pitcher Danny Graves in 2006.
2006: Begins Minor League Career
Tommy Pham started his minor league journey in 2006 with the Rookie League Johnson City Cardinals, primarily playing shortstop.
2007: Transition to Outfield
In 2007, Pham transitioned from playing shortstop to the outfield while playing for the Low-A Batavia Muckdogs and Single-A Swing of the Quad Cities.
2008: High Strikeout Rate in Minor Leagues
Pham experienced a high strikeout rate during his 2008 season in Single-A and High-A.
2008: Pham Begins Experiencing Vision Issues
In 2008, Tommy Pham began experiencing vision issues due to keratoconus, a rare eye disorder.
2008: Vision Impairment
In 2008, Pham experienced vision impairment related to keratoconus.
2009: Continued Minor League Journey
Pham's baseball career continued in the minor leagues in 2009, playing in High-A.
2010: Wrist Fracture
Pham sustained a minor wrist fracture in 2010.
June 2011: Wrist Ligament Tear
In June 2011, Pham suffered a torn wrist ligament, impacting his playing time.
2012: Torn Labrum
Pham's career was hampered by a torn left shoulder labrum in early 2012, leading to a significant portion of the season being sidelined.
2013: Another Labrum Tear
Pham's challenges continued in 2013 when he tore his other labrum after being promoted to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.
September 7, 2014: Major League Debut
Tommy Pham made his Major League debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on September 7, 2014.
2014: Strong Performance with Memphis Redbirds
Pham had a strong season with the Memphis Redbirds in 2014, demonstrating his offensive capabilities.
July 3, 2015: Recalled to the Major Leagues
The St. Louis Cardinals recalled Tommy Pham to the major leagues on July 3, 2015.
2015: Impressive Performance in Minor Leagues and Defensive Recognition
Despite missing the beginning of the season due to a strained quadriceps, Pham showcased his hitting prowess upon returning and earned recognition as the best defensive outfielder in the PCL.
2015: Postseason Debut and Home Run
Pham made his postseason debut as a pinch hitter in the 2015 NLDS, hitting a memorable home run against Jon Lester.
2016: High Strikeout Rate Against Left-Handed Pitchers
In 2016, Pham faced challenges when batting against left-handed pitchers, as evidenced by his high strikeout rate.
2016: Opening Day Roster and Injury
Pham earned a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster in 2016 but unfortunately sustained an oblique injury during batting practice.
May 7, 2017: Multi-Home Run Game
On May 7, 2017, Pham hit two home runs against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park, contributing to a Cardinals victory.
2017: Breakout Season with the Cardinals
During the 2017 season, Pham achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Cardinals batter since 1900 to record a .300 batting average, 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in a single season.
2017: Strong Start in Minor Leagues and Recall to Cardinals
Pham's strong performance in the minor leagues earned him a recall to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017.
July 31, 2018: Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
On July 31, 2018, the Cardinals traded Pham to the Tampa Bay Rays.
2018: Injury from Batting Cage Contraption
In 2018, Pham sustained a head injury when a resistance band contraption he designed malfunctioned in the batting cage.
2018: Named Starting Center Fielder
The Cardinals recognized Pham's talent and named him their starting center fielder for the 2018 season.
April 5, 2019: Pham Reaches Base for 40th Straight Game
On April 5, 2019, Tommy Pham achieved a significant milestone by reaching base for the 40th consecutive game, setting a new record for the Tampa Bay Rays.
December 6, 2019: Pham Traded to the San Diego Padres
On December 6, 2019, Tommy Pham was traded to the San Diego Padres along with Jake Cronenworth. In exchange, the Rays received Hunter Renfroe, Xavier Edwards, and a player to be named later (Esteban Quiroz).
August 16, 2020: Pham Suffers Fractured Hamate Bone
On August 16, 2020, Tommy Pham suffered a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, requiring surgery and sidelining him for a month.
October 11, 2020: Pham Stabbed Outside San Diego Strip Club
On October 11, 2020, Tommy Pham was stabbed during an altercation outside a strip club in San Diego and underwent surgery.
October 2020: Pham Stabbed in Altercation
In October 2020, Tommy Pham was involved in an altercation outside a strip club in San Diego, during which he was stabbed in the lower back, requiring surgery and 200 stitches.
2020: Pham Undergoes Third Surgery
In the 2020 offseason, Tommy Pham underwent his third surgery of the year. This procedure addressed a torn cartilage in his left wrist.
March 26, 2022: Pham Signs with the Cincinnati Reds
On March 26, 2022, Tommy Pham signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, with a mutual option for 2023.
August 1, 2022: Pham Traded to the Boston Red Sox
On August 1, 2022, Tommy Pham was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
November 10, 2022: Red Sox Decline Mutual Option on Pham
On November 10, 2022, the Boston Red Sox announced that both the team and Tommy Pham had declined their mutual option, making Pham a free agent.
January 24, 2023: Pham Signs with the New York Mets
On January 24, 2023, Tommy Pham signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the New York Mets.
August 1, 2023: Mets Trade Pham to the Arizona Diamondbacks
On August 1, 2023, the New York Mets traded Tommy Pham and cash considerations to the Arizona Diamondbacks for prospect Jeremy Rodriguez.
April 15, 2024: Pham Signs Minor League Contract with White Sox
On April 15, 2024, Tommy Pham signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.
July 29, 2024: White Sox Trade Pham to the St. Louis Cardinals
On July 29, 2024, the Chicago White Sox traded Tommy Pham to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a three-team trade.