Pirates’ Tommy Pham Serves Suspension Against Mets Over Incident with Angels Fans
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham served a one-game suspension Monday night during the matchup against the New York Mets, a penalty stemming from an incident with Los Angeles Angels fans last month.
Major League Baseball issued the suspension and an undisclosed fine to Pham on April 25 for what it described as “inappropriate actions toward” Angels fans during a game two days prior. A Pirates representative confirmed Monday that the punishment was upheld following an appeal and subsequent hearing.
Pham, 37, allegedly made an obscene gesture toward a fan who had made contact with him while he chased down a ball in the left-field corner during Pittsburgh’s 3-0 win over the Angels.
Now in his first season with the Pirates, the 12-year veteran is hitting .176 with no home runs, six RBIs, and a .475 OPS across 34 games.
Pham, who appeared in 79 games for the Mets in 2023, has a .331 career batting average with 10 home runs in 169 at-bats over 55 games at Citi Field.
Injury Updates and Roster Moves
Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz missed his second straight start after exiting Saturday’s 11-inning loss to Atlanta due to tightness in his lower back.
Alexander Canario, who was acquired from the Mets for cash on March 31, was again slated to start in center field.
The team also activated shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the 10-day injured list. To make room, infielder Liover Peguero was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis following Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Braves.
Kiner-Falefa had been out since May 1 with a right hamstring strain. He returned to the lineup Monday night against New York, batting sixth and playing shortstop.
The 30-year-old entered the game with a .280 average, no home runs, seven RBIs, and a .663 OPS over 30 games this season.
Peguero went 2-for-9 over four games with the Pirates after being recalled from Indianapolis on May 2.
