Padres' Tommy Pham says he's lucky to be alive after stabbing in October

San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham admitted Sunday that he's lucky to be alive after getting stabbed outside a strip club in October. 

"The doctor here basically told me that if I wasn't so muscular, I might be dead or paralyzed," Pham told reporters via Zoom, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "So I'm lucky to even be able to play. I thought I wasn't going to be able to play again."

Pham was stabbed outside of Pacer's Gentleman's Club on Oct. 11. He confronted a group of people who were gathering near his car. He asked the men to move away from his vehicle, but police reports say that things between Pham and the other men turned violent, resulting in the 32-year-old being cut by a blade. 

The former St. Louis Cardinal had a difficult first season with the Padres in 2020, slashing .211/.312/.312 with three home runs and 12 RBI. He'll become an unrestricted free agent after the 2021 campaign.