Tommy Pham Gave His Literal Elevator Pitch To GM To Talk His Way Off the IL, Then Delivers A Clutch Homer

by USports EditorsSeptember 16, 2026, 5:34 pm >

Tommy Pham‘s return to the Chicago White Sox active roster began with a chance elevator encounter and ended with a go-ahead home run just hours later.

The 38-year-old outfielder was activated off the 10-day injured list Wednesday and immediately made his presence felt, hitting a three-run homer in the fifth inning of Chicago’s 6-3 series-finale loss to the Guardians — his first hit of the season with the club.

The move happened faster than planned. Manager Will Venable had intended to keep Pham on the injured list until this weekend’s series against the Tigers. But late Tuesday night, shortly after the White Sox suffered a gut-wrenching 7-6 walk-off loss on Brayan Rocchio‘s two-run double off closer Grant Taylor, Pham found himself sharing an elevator with general manager Chris Getz. Pham told Getz directly that he was ready to play.

“If I didn’t see him on the elevator, I probably would have had to wait until this weekend,” Pham said. “But every game matters right now when you’re in a playoff race. [Cleveland] is neck and neck with us, so it’s important for us to win today.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Pham described the exchange succinctly after his homer during an in-game interview: “I told [Getz] I could play today. I said I’m ready. I went right to the source.”

A Turbulent Season

Pham’s activation caps off an unusually chaotic year. He opened the 2026 season with the Mets but went hitless in 13 at-bats before being designated for assignment. He then signed minor league deals with both the Orioles and the Phillies without ever appearing in a game for either big league club, hitting .238 across 69 total games in the Mets’, Orioles’ and Phillies’ farm systems.

The White Sox acquired Pham from Philadelphia on Aug. 31 in exchange for cash considerations. He went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter in his White Sox debut on Sept. 2, then landed on the injured list Sept. 6 with a left calf strain before being activated Wednesday.

“If anything, these experiences this year have prepared me for this,” Pham said. “I’ve gone way longer between at-bats than ever before, so I’ve been preparing in the cage.”

Wednesday marked Pham’s second stint with Chicago. He batted .266 with five home runs and 19 RBIs over 70 games with the White Sox in 2024 before the Cardinals, along with current teammate Erick Fedde, were dealt to Chicago in a three-team trade that brought Miguel Vargas to Chicago from the Dodgers.

To make room for Pham on the active roster, the team optioned catcher Edgar Quero to Triple-A Charlotte.

Venable credited Pham’s competitive drive for the quick turnaround. “Tommy is maybe not at 100 percent, but you appreciate the edge and the passion that he has,” Venable said. “It helps a team a lot.”

Pham, now in his 13th major league season, is a career .256 hitter with 149 home runs and 522 RBIs across stints with 10 different organizations. The White Sox remain locked in a tight playoff race with the Guardians as the season winds down.