Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham served a one-game suspension on Monday night against the New York Mets.
Pham was sanctioned by Major League Baseball and fined an undisclosed amount on April 25 for “inappropriate actions” towards Angels fans during a game two days prior. The penalty was upheld after his appeal went to a hearing, a Pirates spokesman said on Monday.
Pham, 37, allegedly made an obscene gesture at a fan who touched him while chasing a ball in the left field corner during a 3-0 victory over the Angels.
The 12-year veteran is batting .176 with zero home runs, six RBIs, and a .475 OPS in 34 games during his first season with the Pirates.
Pham, who played 79 games for the Mets in 2023, has a lifetime batting average of .331 with 10 home runs in 169 at-bats and 55 games at Citi Field.
In other news, Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game after exiting Saturday’s 11-inning loss to Atlanta with lower back tightness.
Alexander Canario, acquired from the Mets for cash on March 31, was scheduled to start again in center.
Pittsburgh also reinstated shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the 10-day injured list. In a corresponding move, infielder Liover Peguero was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis following Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Braves.
Kiner-Falefa had been out of action since May 1 with a right hamstring strain. He was in the lineup at shortstop against New York, batting sixth.
Kiner-Falefa, 30, began the night batting .280 with zero home runs, seven RBIs, and a .663 OPS in 30 games this season.
Peguero went 2-for-9 in four games with Pittsburgh after being called up on May 2 from Indianapolis.
