Tommy Pham is making a case to be a Red Sox in 2023
In his short stint with the Red Sox, Tommy Pham is making a case to stick around in 2023
Photo Credit: The Athletic
When the Red Sox acquired Tommy Pham at the trade deadline, it was not a blockbuster move. The veteran outfielder was hitting .238 for the Reds and on his second team in as many seasons. While his stint in Boston has been short, he has already injected an unexpected spark into the Red Sox lineup. With each game, he is making a case to stick around next year.
Through 31 games with the Red Sox, Pham is hitting .267 with 13 extra-base hits. The Las Vegas native has 17 runs batted in during that span and has been revitalized by a change of scenery. In just 131 at-bats, he only needs six more homers to match his total with the Reds this season prior to the trade.
Additionally, Pham has excelled defensively. In 241.1 innings in the outfield, he has not committed an error with the Red Sox. The former Red has also added five assists and 46 putouts to his resume. While Pham has always been solid in the field with the Red Sox, he has yet to make a mistake.
In the coming months, the Red Sox will have to decide if Pham factors into their plans next season. He has a mutual option for the 2023 campaign and has shown the value he brings over the last few weeks. The former 16th-round pick also expressed interest in joining the Red Sox in free agency and has not been fazed by playing in a bigger market like Boston.
If the Red Sox were to pick up Phams option, he would bring a veteran presence with some power. He has averaged 15-20 home runs a season and shown a flair for the dramatics in a Red Sox uniform. That is a good combination to keep around.
While a decision on Pham future is still weeks away, he has set himself up to have plenty of interest this offseason if the mutual option is declined. He has shown that he still has some pop and has been hard to keep out of the lineup. That should only continue as the season enters its final weeks.
Regardless of how the 2022 campaign finishes, Pham has had a better run in Boston than many could have expected.
Follow Jamie on Twitter @JamieGatlin17
For additional Red Sox and Major League baseball content, follow Beyond the Monster: Boston Red Sox on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.
Thanks for reading Beyond the Monster: Boston Red Sox! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work