Pirates’ Tommy Pham receives 1-game suspension from MLB for inappropriate gesture towards fans

Pittsburgh Pirates star Tommy Pham was given a 1-game suspension for an obscene gesture towards the fans at the Angel Stadium.

Pirates’ Tommy Pham receives 1-game suspension from MLB for inappropriate gesture towards fans

Tommy Pham (Image via MLB)

Pittsburgh Pirates star Tommy Pham has been suspended for 1 game by the Major League Baseball (MLB). This comes after he made an inappropriate gesture towards some fans in a recent game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

The Pirates recently traveled to Anaheim to take on the Angels in a 3-game series. In one of these games, Angels catcher Travis D’Arnaud would hit the ball towards left field in the fifth inning. Pham would run over to the left side of the field to collect the ball.

As he went to the corner to field the ball, a fan at the Angel Stadium would brush his glove at the back of Pham. The outfielder did not like it, and after throwing the ball back to his team, he would have a verbal exchange with the fans from the field. During this, he would make some inappropriate gestures towards them. Check out a video regarding this below:

The MLB would later fine Pham $10,000 and hand him a one-game suspension. In a statement released, the league found his actions as inappropriate. The Pirates star has appealed this suspension and will be allowed to play until a hearing takes place on this.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his inappropriate actions towards fans during Wednesday night’s game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

MLB said in a statement

As per reports, the fan was later asked to relocate. Meanwhile, there was a chorus of boos when Pham came up to bat next. He responded by driving in another run for this team to make it a 3-0 ballgame. The Pirates went on to shut out the Angels and clinched the series.

Tommy Pham admits to being disappointed with MLB over actions from fans

Tommy Pham came under the spotlight after he made an obscene hand-jerking gesture towards the fans at the Angels Stadium. While speaking to the media, he expressed that he was disappointed with the MLB over this incident.

Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham (Image via Sports Illustrated)

The former St. Louis Cardinals star expressed that the league should have removed the fan from the game. However, they only relocated him to a different section of the stadium.

I’m more disappointed in MLB because word is, the ground stopped. The fan grabbed me and he wasn’t per our rules, per my understanding, he is supposed to be ejected from the game. He wasn’t removed from the game; they just sat him in a different seat. Now we’re allowing fans to grab the players on balls in play with no repercussions?

Tommy Pham said as per The Big Lead

Fan interference in baseball is not uncommon. Several times, fans have raised their glove to catch a ball coming in their direction.

One of the biggest fan interference moments came last year in Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. One fan would grab the glove and try to throw out the ball while the other grabbed his free arm. The two of them were later banned indefinitely from the stadium.

Tommy Pham went hitless in Pirates dominating win over LA Dodgers

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates picked up a huge 3-0 win over the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. An inspirational performance from the mound from the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes, saw them shut out the Dodgers. Tommy Pham, meanwhile, went hitless.

Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham (Image via X/@BRWalkoff)

The 2025 season has not been a good one for Pham so far. After spending the 2024 year with three teams, he signed with the Pirates in the offseason.

In the 24 games he has played so far, he has managed just 14 hits. His batting average of .175 has become a bit concerning for the Pirates fans. In the 3-0 win over the Dodgers, he went hitless.

The fans would be hoping for a change in fortunes regarding the form of Pham going ahead. The win on Friday saw them clinch their 11th win of the season and have an 11-16 record. On the other hand, the Dodgers are now 16-10 for the season, having started the year with an 8-0 record.