This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert’s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Tommy Pham was not surprised to get the word just minutes before the Trade Deadline that he was being dealt and he was excited when he heard the D-backs were the team that wanted him the most.
“At the point with the Mets, they were trading everybody,” Pham said. “I was kind of expecting to get traded. I was being told [by Mets GM Billy Eppler] that there were a lot of teams involved. So you know, he did a good job. He kept me in the loop. I'm excited man. This team has a lot of energy, a lot of athleticism. It kind of reminds me of Tampa Bay in 2018.”
Pham said he saw firsthand earlier this year just how disruptive Arizona’s speed on the bases could be. He recalled a pop fly earlier this season that fell between him and Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor in left-center that D-backs outfielder Alek Thomas was able to turn into a double.
“[Former Cardinals manager] Mike Shildt used to tell us in this game, you're either applying pressure or getting pressure applied to you,” Pham said.
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said Pham will see time on the corners in the outfield and some time at designated hitter. He’s not just going to be a platoon player getting at-bats against left-handed pitchers.
“He’s going to play a lot,” Lovullo said. “He's got close to an .800 OPS for his Major League career. He’s a good baseball player. He's gonna win some baseball games for us. He's a good hitter and a good player.”
When Lovullo’s comments were relayed to Pham he got a big smile on his face.
“I love that, man,” Pham said. “I mean, as a player you want to play, you want to be able to contribute to help the team win. So I want to make sure I'm prepared and I'm ready.”
D-backs GM Mike Hazen said that the research the team did about Pham led them to believe that he was going to be a good fit in the clubhouse.
“He has a proven track record of hitting,” Hazen said. “What we had heard in New York is how motivated and disciplined he was in the clubhouse in making himself a really good baseball player. I think that’s something that will fit into our clubhouse.”
Said Pham, “I just try to be a pro, you know, work hard, prepare, put myself in a position to be successful and help the team win.”
Chase Field is one of the few ballparks in the Majors that Pham has yet to homer in despite the fact that he’s had 103 at-bats there over his career.
The D-backs installed a humidor to help normalize the baseballs in the dry desert air during the 2018 season. That has reduced some of the offense in the park, turning it from a hitter’s paradise to more pitcher-friendly.
“Before they put the humidor in it was a great place to hit,” Pham said. “Before the humidor came in, you built a lot of confidence because you're launching balls everywhere in BP, but it's actually a park I haven't hit a home run out. So, hopefully, I can check that box off. Let's see if I can change it.”