Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham has often been in the news for the wrong reasons throughout his career. That trend continues in 2025, as Pham made headlines after being caught on camera making a lewd gesture to a fan during Wednesday’s game in Anaheim.
Will Tommy Pham Be Fined For His Inappropriate Gesture?
Pham, currently an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is no stranger to controversy. There was that time when he slapped Joc Pederson over a fantasy football dispute. Plus, countless incidents of him fighting and cursing at fans in the stands.
Many expect Pham to face punishment for his latest incident. The anticipation has helped a popular account on X go viral by joking that a report revealed a $10,000 fine by MLB. While many believed this to be true, there has yet to be an official announcement on a potential punishment.
MLB has fined Tommy Pham $10,000 for ‘Excessive Stroking’ after he responded to a heckling fan during last night’s game against the Angels, per @BenVerlander pic.twitter.com/IAsI6QsNPr
— Talkin’ Basabell (@TalkinBasabell_)
It’s clear that Pham has a bit of a temper that he needs to be controlled at times. There’s no reason for a professional athlete to get in an exchange with a fan, even if the fan does something to trigger the player. We expect to see a certain degree of professionalism from these players, and Pham didn’t show it here.
Pham made the gesture after a fan touched Pham as he went to the wall to field a ball. While obviously the fan was in the wrong here, that doesn’t mean that Pham should have reacted the way he did.
What’s Next For Pham?
This incident is a good example of why Pham has played for eight teams since 2022. While he has a reputation for being a great teammate and a positive presence in the clubhouse, Pham continues to get in these types of situations. At 37 years old, Pham should be able to control his temper and emotions by now.
It’s unfortunate because Pham is still a useful player. Last season, he posted nine homers, 20 doubles, three triples, and seven steals. The year prior, he mashed 16 homers and 27 doubles, paired with 22 stolen bases while helping lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a World Series appearance.
This year, he has gotten off to a slow start in his first season in Pittsburgh. He is hitting .184 in 23 games with zero home runs and three doubles. Whether he starts hitting or not, Pham will still need to stop getting involved in incidents such as this one. Let’s hope that Pham can shape up his act sooner rather than later.