One Year Wonder: Class of 2022

One way to try to catch up on these is to go each year and cover the players.  I had everyone from 2021 covered (Adam Ottavino, Danny Santana and Kyle Schwarber).  I did previously cover Matt Strahm and Michael Wacha in individual posts, but I thought I would do a post for the remaining players.  I will only cover those for whom cards have been made, so no Yolmer Sanchez, Jake Diekman, Abraham Almonte or Jaylin Davis, all of whom were covered in my Red Sox With No Cards post covering 2022.  That leaves me with two players.  

ERIC HOSMER

Eric Hosmer was once a big star.  He was a major part of the Kansas City Royals team that appeared in back-to-back World Series, winning it all in 2015.  He was a four-time Gold Glover and also won a Silver Slugger and was an All Star in 2016.  He hit over .300 a couple of times, twice hit 25 home runs and had a 100 RBI season.  Then, he signed a huge deal with the Padres and that was a horrendous move for him.  He had a decent power season his second year in San Diego, but by and large his hitting stats took a nosedive.  The Padres attempted to move him in the deal that brought Juan Soto to the Padres, but he exercised his no-trade clause.  He was convinced to waive his rights and approve a trade to the Red Sox, which the Padres sweetened by adding a couple of prospects in return for former top prospect Jay Groome.  Hosmer appeared in just 14 games for the Red Sox, hitting .244/.320/.311 with just three doubles, no homers and four RBIs.  He played for the Cubs in 2023, but his power was still gone and that was it for the former Royals star.  Hosmer does not come close to being in the conversation for All-Time One-Year Wonder first-baseman, which is held by Nick Esasky.

TOMMY PHAM

Pham has had an interesting Major League career.  He was a role player for a few seasons with the Cardinals before a big season in 2017 in which he hit over .300 and had more than 20 home runs.  The next season was similar, but had him traded to the Rays in a deadline deal.  He had another big year in 2019 before being traded to the Padres along with Jake Cronenworth for a package that included Hunter Renfroe.  He had a chaotic stint in San Diego.  He signed with the Reds prior to the 2022 season and was reasonably productive.  He was traded to the Red Sox for a minor leaguer at the deadline.  Pham played in 53 games for Boston, hitting .234/.298/.374.  He had 12 doubles, six homers and drove in 24 runs.  After the season, he was once again a free agent.  Since 2022, he has played for the Mets, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Cardinals, Royals and Pirates.  He is still active at this time, though he is once more a free agent.  Pham also does not come close to being in the conversation for All-Time One-Year Wonder left-fielder, which is held by Cliff Floyd.