Looking back on the San Diego Padres 2020 season, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer, and Wil Myers played a key role in the team’s offensive resurgence. However, one name missing is Tommy Pham who struggled to meet expectations in his first season with the Friars. But if the Padres are going to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West title, then Pham needs to become a key component in the offensive attack.
Tommy Pham’s first year with the San Diego Padres was a disaster
On so many levels, 2020 was a disaster for Pham. He suffered a broken hamate bone in his left hand that kept him out of the lineup for six weeks. Before the injury, Pham was struggling at the plate as he batted .211 with 3 home runs and 12 RBIs in 31 games.
Following the Padres elimination in the divisional round by the Dodgers, Pham’s offseason did not begin as planned. He was stabbed in the back during an altercation outside a strip club (Pacers Showgirls) in San Diego last October. In an interview with USA Today baseball writer Bob Nightengale, Pham felt fortunate to be alive and back on the field. And with the regular season a week away, he has been an active participant in spring training games.
Still, Padres fans should have some concerns that Pham has become a bit of an enigma. He is a talented hitter who has not had a breakout season in his major league career. No question, frustration has contributed to Pham bouncing from one team to another (4 ½ seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, 1 ½ seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, and last season with the Padres) with the hope of finding a permanent major league home.
Pitching is Key to Winning, Offensive Attack is Just as Important
Yes, pitching is key to winning, but teams still have to score runs to win games. Who doesn’t like a 1-0 pitching duel, but you still have to score that one run to gain the victory. The Padres had a great offensive attack last season. They were third (324) in the majors in runs scored behind only the Atlanta Braves (348) and Dodgers (349).
And there is no evidence of an expected drop off by the Padres hitters in 2021. The lineup has too many proven RBI producers to see such a threat from occurring. However, a more productive Pham can extend the lineup and make the Friars’ offense that more potent. Adding the right-hand hitting outfielder to the mix will cause even more headaches for opposing pitching staffs.
Pham Must Re-Gain Hitting Prowess in 2021
But first, Pham has to re-gain his ability to hit for power to both gaps and over the fence. Certainly, Padres fans can be very skeptical of this notion, but there is cautious optimism that Pham can return to the level of his career (.284 BA, over 20 HRs, and over 60 RBIs) average in all hitting categories. And if he gets on base, Pham is a legitimate threat to steal a bag, which makes him a key component to the offense.
At $8.9 million, Pham does not put any stress on the Padres payroll for this season. Let’s not forget that he becomes a free agent next winter. So, it is in his best interest to have a banner year at the plate. It could make him a very rich man next offseason. Still, this scenario goes away if Pham struggles to stay healthy or fails to produce at the plate in 2021.
Currently, Pham is batting .300 in spring training, which suggests that he is poised to have a bounce-back season. The bigger question lies with where to bat Pham in the Padres lineup. He is not an ideal top-of-the- order hitter or a proven RBI producer, but he has the skill set to excel in the sixth or seventh spot in the batting order.
No question, Pham’s production is key to the San Diego Padres success this season.