GOODYEAR, Ariz. —
Tommy Pham had been penciled in as the designated hitter when rain washed away the Cactus League opener a week ago. Ensuing soreness in his side sidelined his swing three days earlier in the week. What Pham showed on Saturday in his long-awaited Padres debut — three strikeouts, including two swinging against Reds ace Luis Castillo — could have easily been chalked up to knocking off the rust.
The 31-year-old Pham doesn’t entertain excuses.
Of course, he doesn’t.
“If you want to see pitches, track pitches, maybe you can do that off a machine,” Pham said Saturday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark.