The Los Angeles Dodgers signing Jake Lamb to a Minor League contract during Spring Training was viewed as a depth move with potential upside.
Lamb became an All-Star with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017 but had seen his career upended since then due to injuries. Despite impressing during Cactus League play, Lamb was re-assigned to Minor League camp and he began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Various injuries throughout the Dodgers roster and opt-out dates in Lamb’s contract led to getting called up at the end of June. Nearly one month with the team, the nine-year veteran has contributed on multiple occasions.
“I think the biggest thing is, good or bad game, is trusting my swing, trusting my approach, not blaming mechanics or anything, just dissecting at-bats and trying to make adjustments from there,” Lamb said after helping the Dodgers sweep the San Francisco Giants.
“I’ve been saying it this whole year, but it kind of goes with slowing the game back down a little bit. But yeah, it’s just those in-game adjustments. I’m facing a lot of guys I haven’t faced before, just being in the AL last year. So yeah, first time through a little bit, it’s a different look, all that.
“But second time through, like with (Alex) Cobb, I had a good feel for that splitter. And then he went back up in the zone, but that’s kind of what I’ve been feeling. Just been able to make adjustments and trust my swing and continue to trust that.”
Starting as the designated hitter and batting cleanup on Sunday, Lamb went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI double. His extra-base hit broke a tie and sparked the Dodgers to a three-run inning in the seventh.
“He’s tough, man,” Lamb said of facing Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers. “It was tough to just see the ball. He’s got that angle, he’s got the white shoes. I mean, seriously, though, for the lefties, it’s tough to see the ball behind those white shoes. Because he’s such crossfire and he’s releasing down low.
“But that last pitch, two strikes. I just tried to get my foot down early, and I was just trying to shoot the ball to the six hole. He threw a slider that wasn’t as high as the first one that he threw and I put a good swing on it and got in the air.”
Lamb part of Dodgers lineup depth
Some of Lamb’s opportunities have come as a result of Chris Taylor being injured. His contributions in the series finale against the Giants came on an afternoon that the Dodgers lineup also did not have Justin Turner or Will Smith in it.
“It’s awesome,” Lamb said of the Dodgers’ depth. “I get on and Luxy drove me in every time I got on. Trayce, Muncy took great swings today. I mean top to bottom, it seems like we’re doing a really good job.
“So that’s been a lot of fun. No matter who comes up, I feel like everyone can get the job done.”
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