Tommy Pham activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday after a fortuitous encounter with White Sox GM Chris Getz. Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, Pham ran into Getz in an elevator and told him he was ready to play despite being sidelined with a calf injury. Getz activated him for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians, where Pham batted cleanup.
Pham made the most of his opportunity. He hit a three-run home run off Guardians pitcher Parker Messick in the fifth inning for his first hit of the season and gave Chicago the lead. The White Sox and Guardians were separated by just a half-game in the AL Central standings entering the contest.
Rogers noted the timing was meaningful: when asked what would have happened if Pham hadn't encountered Getz in the elevator, Pham said he would "probably wait till this weekend" for his activation.