Forgotten Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Andrew Lambo

During the 2013 and 2014 seasons the Pittsburgh Pirates had a rising slugging prospect, but his career was derailed by injuries.

Back in 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked like they had an underrated slugging prospect in their minor league system. Although he only appeared on a top 100 prospect list once before his time with the Pirates, Andrew Lambo showed some potential in the high minors, but that never came to fruition because of injuries. He has since become a forgotten prospect in Pirates history.

Lambo wasn’t drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 4th round of the 2007 draft. Lambo played his first full season of professional baseball in 2008, and batted .295/.351/.482 with 18 home runs and 129 wRC+ in 556 plate appearances (518 at High-A, 38 at Double-A). But after entering the 2009 season as a top 100 prospect per Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, Lambo struggled to a .717 OPS and 98 wRC+ at Double-A.

After posting overall mediocre numbers again at the Double-A level, Lambo was packaged with pitcher James McDonald to be shipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates for relief pitcher Octavio Dotel in July 2010. The change of scenery didn’t really help him, as he carried a .745 OPS with the Pirates.

In 2011, Lambo posted a sub-.700 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A. Lambo looked like he finally turned his career around in 2012 getting off to a blazing hot start, but missed all but 35 total games because of a wrist injury.

So going into 2013, Lambo wasn’t anything more than organizational depth. But Lambo picked up right where he left off. Starting the season off at Double-A, Lambo’s first 247 plate appearances saw him hit .291/.351/.559 with 14 home runs, the most since his first full pro season, and 146 wRC+. Then when he got moved to Triple-A, Lambo got even better hitting .272/.344/.589 with 18 more home runs and a 143 wRC+ in 254 plate appearances.

Lambo eventually got a September call-up where he only received 33 plate appearances. But seeing his numbers in the high minors in 2013 opened the door for Lambo for the potential of more playing time. The only question was where.

The Pittsburgh Pirates obviously weren’t going to move MVP Andrew McCutchen anywhere, nor were they going to move 2013 breakout star left fielder Starling Marte. Right field seemed like his best shot, but with Gregory Polanco ranking as a top 15 prospect in baseball, that also was gonna be hard for Lambo to do well there.

Considering that Lambo had no spot in the outfield, and never was really that great of a defender, the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to try him out at first base. After all, the Pirates had no real future there at the moment, and used a combination of Gaby Sanchez, Garrett Jones and Justin Morneau there last season. That combo produced overall average results so Lambo didn’t have to fill huge shoes either.

So entering spring training 2014, Lambo was considered the team’s primary first baseman. But he collected just four hits in 42 at bats, and with Travis Ishikawa having an outstanding spring, Ishikawa stole the job from Lambo, and subsequently Lambo was sent to Triple-A.

Lambo continued to crush the ball at Indianapolis, hitting .328/.389/.563 with 11 home runs and a 160 wRC+ in 262 plate appearances. But Lambo missed a good chunk of time again. He played just 21 games and received 39 plate appearances at the major league level.

By 2015, Lambo was on the outside looking in, and it didn’t help he was suffering from plantar fasciitis. Lambo almost didn’t play in 2015 because of it, and the only playing time he got was 20 games and 27 plate appearances at the MLB level.

In total, Lambo accumulated 99 plate appearances in a Pirate uniform. He only collected 18 hits, one home run, and seven doubles. After 2015, Lambo was claimed off waivers by the Oakland A’s, and received just one more plate appearance in Oakland.

Lambo showed some potential in 2013 and 2014 as someone who could provide some pop at first base and corner outfield. But Lambo just couldn’t stay healthy. If he did stay off the disabled list, he may have developed into a solid bat. Lambo hasn’t played professional baseball since 2017 when he was with the Independent League Bridgeport Bluefish.