Tommy Pham’s Torrid Hitting Tear Continues

After starting the season slow, which included a procedure to correct an eye problem, Tommy Pham has emerged as one of the best Mets offensive threats this season. After the Mets first series win in about a month, Pham talked about how he’s gotten to this point, which he feels is a continuation of his work ethic instead of an outside influence.

“My approach doesn’t change where I’m hitting in the lineup,” said Pham, “Today I had a little luck on my side, but I don’t think I’m doing anything I haven’t done before in this game. This game has its ups and downs. You can’t get too high and you can’t get too low. You have to stay level.”

Pham plays with a chip on his shoulder, which was evident after his willingness to prove the Mets analytic department wrong about his usage in the lineup this season. Pham has been on fire recently, with a batting average of .591 (13-for-22) and six extra-base hits over the past six games.

This was evident in Sunday’s game against the Giants. Pham, who hit second for the first time this season, continued his hitting streak, reaching base four times, scoring two runs and driving in one. His performance contributed to the Mets’ 8-4 victory in the series-deciding rubber game.

Buck Showalter talks on his decision to move Tommy Pham up in the order:

"Tommy has certainly proved himself worthy of doing a lot of things" pic.twitter.com/bgMojjJoW8

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 2, 2023

However, his exceptional performance extends beyond just a week. Since June 14, he has maintained a .406 batting average, the second-highest in the MLB. Going back even further to May 28, he boasts a .377 average and ranks among the league leaders in average, slugging percentage, and OPS. In addition to this, Pham seems to have become the perfect candidate for the second spot in the lineup for the Mets.

Before the game, the Mets’ No. 2 hitters had the lowest OPS (.599) compared to other positions in the lineup. This deficiency was largely due to Starling Marte‘s struggles throughout the season. Mets manager Buck Showalter took a gamble and slotted Pham into the two-hole and it immediately paid dividends.

Showalter revealed that he had contemplated promoting Pham for quite some time. He noted the Giants’ decision to employ an opener rather than a conventional starting pitcher as the ideal opportunity to slot Pham into the 2-hole.

“It’s huge when the guy behind me in the lineup is putting the ball in play the way that he is,” Brandon Nimmo said to the New York Post. “Good things happen when you put the ball in play, and he’s been putting it in play really hard. It puts a lot of pressure on the pitching staff right from the beginning. He was huge for us tonight, and it obviously showed up in the score.”

In a season that has had some massive underperformances from key players, the emergence of Tommy Pham is one of the lone bright spots for this club. Whether he becomes trade bait or can actually become a spark plug and aid in becoming a contender again, it’s undeniable that Tommy Pham has made his name known and has put everyone on notice.

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