'Tireless worker' Pham finds footing with KC

NEW YORK -- The Royals have high praise for outfielder Tommy Pham. From general manager J.J. Picollo to manager Matt Quatraro, they often talk about Pham’s intensity and the swagger he brings to the baseball field.

Off the field, Pham will do what it takes to prepare for the game at hand. Take Friday’s workout at Yankee Stadium for example: He was not scheduled to take live batting practice, but there he was in the batter’s box, making sure that his swing was just right.

“[He is] constantly working, wants to perfect his craft, and it's very evident that he wants to win,” Picollo said.

Pham, 36, has been in the Major Leagues for 11 seasons and is still seeking advice from the coaching staff.

“He's a great worker, tireless worker,” Quatraro said. “He's constantly trying to figure out what he needs to do to improve. And for a guy that's played as long as he has, that's not always the norm -- his willingness to make some changes and listen to suggestions. He plays extremely hard all the time. I think our guys respect that.”

When they acquired Pham off waivers from the Cardinals on Aug. 31, the Royals wanted someone with postseason experience. This is his fifth postseason appearance, with five different teams. Last year, Pham helped the D-backs reach the World Series. They lost in five games to the Rangers, but Pham went 8-for-19 (.421) with a home run.

A year later, Pham’s experience in October paid off again in Saturday’ 6-5 loss to the Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. In a game that saw five lead changes, Pham went 1-for-3 and drove in the Royals’ first run with a sacrifice fly off Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole in the second inning

Even though he is in the postseason for the second consecutive season, Pham reflects on 2024 as a tough year. It was difficult, mentally, playing with three big league teams -- the White Sox, Cardinals and Royals. For the season, Pham had a slash line of .255/.309/.368 with 27 RBIs.

The disappointment started last offseason. As a free agent, Pham struggled to find work and he didn’t sign with the White Sox until April 16. He believes age was working against him.

“Three teams are tough,” Pham said. “You find yourself as a new teammate, you want to contribute so much. I haven’t had a good year.”

What also didn’t help was that Pham didn’t have a Spring Training. He has an eye condition called keratoconus (a weak cornea) and he needed the exhibition season to evaluate the lens he uses to see the baseball.

Before the Trade Deadline, Pham was dealt to the Cardinals, the team that drafted him in 2006. After a great start, which included a pinch-hit grand slam in his first game, Pham was not playing every day and asked John Mozeliak, the team’s president of baseball operations, to place him on waivers. Pham wanted another crack at the postseason.

The Royals selected Pham off waivers and had no apprehensions about acquiring his services. There were people in the organization like Quatraro and right-hander Michael Wacha who worked with Pham on other teams.

“When I called Tommy to just say, ‘Welcome to the organization,’” Picollo said, “'[Pham said], ‘Hey, man, what took you so long?’ So I got a glimpse of what Tommy was like and he has been wonderful to have in our clubhouse.”

One can imagine how Pham feels about being a member of the Royals.

“I was very happy [when the Royals grabbed me],” Pham said. “I appreciate Mozeliak granting me my request to get put on waivers. That’s something he didn’t have to do for me, but he did. When I found out it was the Royals, I thought this team would contend like we are. We are such a young energetic team, that it was only going to make me better.”

Pham believes he has a few years left as an active player. He is in great shape at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds. He can still run and believes he can steal bases at a great success rate. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the World Series and he wants to stay with the Royals.

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After the postseason, he will be playing winter ball for Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League. Playing in the league will help him adjust his lens while he is playing the game that he loves.

“The last thing I want to do is walk away from the game feeling like I didn’t do enough or I didn’t give enough,” Pham said. “I want to walk away with no regrets. … I have to show them I can still contribute at a high level. So I’m going to be working my ass off to prove it.”