MESA, Ariz. -- Andrew Lambo has had 94 at-bats in the Major Leagues, but they've come over three seasons. That's the definition of a guy who hasn't gotten a real shot at success at the highest level of the game.
That might change in 2016 with the Oakland A's. While Lambo, whom the A's claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in November, might not crack the 25-man roster when camp breaks in April, he might not be far from a callup sooner than later.
• A's Spring Training info
Entering Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers, Lambo, a 27-year-old Southern California native who has played both corner outfield positions and first base in those three brief big league stints, had more at-bats than any A's player this spring. And he had delivered, slashing .431/.476/.842 with two home runs, two doubles and five RBIs.
"He's a guy we wanted to take a hard look at," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "And he's really swung the bat well for us."
Lambo said he doesn't want to put too much stock into the numbers, particularly when it's such a small sample size and it's still not even mid-March.
"I'm just trying to get that feel, get that rhythm," Lambo said. "Everybody's looking to get that timing with pitching, defense and hitting. It's about getting that rhythm back and getting into the flow of the game and get back to baseball IQ and thinking. It's the only thing I really challenge myself with in the spring."
Early springs have been a challenge for Lambo in the past. He said he has usually started slowly but that it's possible that being with a new team in a new environment has energized him a bit more.
"With him having a lot of success in the Minor Leagues and being limited in the big leagues, even though it's been mostly pinch-hitting, guys like that that are trying to make an impression on this team right away can't afford to be slow starters, to an extent," Melvin said.
"There's a lot more games left in spring, but first impressions are first impressions. When you haven't seen a guy before, that's all you have to go on."