Tommy Pham did not wait for the Detroit series to return to the White Sox lineup. A late-night elevator conversation with general manager Chris Getz moved up the timetable, and the veteran outfielder answered with a three-run homer in Chicago’s 6-3 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday.
Key takeaways
- Pham was activated from the 10-day injured list after telling Chris Getz he was ready to play.
- The 38-year-old delivered his first Chicago hit of the season with a fifth-inning, go-ahead three-run home run.
- Cleveland won the series finale, 6-3, one day after Brayan Rocchio’s walk-off two-run double beat Chicago 7-6.
- Catcher Edgar Quero was sent to Triple-A Charlotte to open a roster spot.
- Pham had been sidelined by a left calf strain after appearing once for the White Sox following his Aug. 31 acquisition from Philadelphia.
An elevator ride changed the plan
Manager Will Venable had indicated that Pham’s return would likely wait until the next series against the Tigers. But after the White Sox dropped a painful game Tuesday night, Getz and Pham happened to share an elevator, giving the outfielder a direct chance to state his case.
“Had I not run into him in the elevator, I probably would have been waiting for the weekend,” Pham said. “But every game counts in a playoff race. Cleveland is right there with us, so winning today was important.”
Pham said he told Getz plainly that he could play and was ready, adding after his home run that he “went straight to the source.” The White Sox took him at his word, and he was back in the lineup less than three weeks after arriving from the Phillies for cash considerations.
His first game for Chicago came Sept. 2 in Houston, when he entered as a pinch-hitter and went 0-for-1. Four days later, the club placed him on the injured list with the calf issue. Wednesday’s blast was his first hit since returning to the organization.
Venable said Pham might not be completely healthy, but the manager values the veteran’s competitive makeup. “You appreciate the edge and passion he brings,” Venable said. “That can help a club a great deal.”
A season built around waiting for another chance
Pham’s year has included more than its share of stops and starts. He opened the season with the Mets, going hitless in 13 at-bats before being designated for assignment. He later joined the Orioles and Phillies on Minor League deals but did not reach the majors with either club.
Across 69 Minor League games in the Mets, Orioles and Phillies systems, Pham hit .238. He said the irregular playing time helped prepare him for a return in the middle of a pennant chase.
“This year has probably prepared me for it,” Pham said. “I’ve had longer breaks between at-bats than at any other point, so I’ve stayed ready in the cage.”
This is Pham’s second run with the White Sox. He played 70 games for Chicago in 2024, batting .266 with five homers and 19 RBIs, before he and current teammate Erick Fedde were sent to St. Louis in a three-team deal that brought Miguel Vargas from the Dodgers to the White Sox.
Now in his 13th Major League season, Pham owns a career .256 average, 149 home runs and 522 RBIs. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound outfielder has suited up for 10 big league clubs, and his latest chance in Chicago began with a conversation in an elevator and a loud swing in Cleveland.
Headline: Tommy Pham’s Elevator Pitch Sends Him Back Into White Sox Lineup
SEO Title: Tommy Pham Returns From IL With Three-Run Homer for White Sox
SEO Description: Tommy Pham accelerated his White Sox return after an elevator chat with Chris Getz, then hit a go-ahead three-run homer against Cleveland.
