Andrew Lambo walked down the dugout steps and took a seat on top of the bench.

Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his shaved head and stared out at the field, watching his teammates finish batting practice.

It had only been a week since the Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect had returned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts following a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy.

Although Lambo was grateful to be back at the ballpark, the Newbury Park High graduate knows he still faces a long road to full recovery. He realizes it will take more than a few extra-base hits to restore his reputation and more than a few runs scored to earn back the trust of fans, coaches and teammates.

“I am working on making better choices and moving forward in a positive way,” Lambo said. “I don’t want to be a distraction to the Dodgers anymore, and I don’t want this to be something that somebody talks about. I want this to just die out and show people by my actions what I came here to do and why I got drafted.”

Lambo won’t be a distraction to the Dodgers anymore regardless of his actions. On Saturday, the Dodgers traded Lambo to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a deal to acquire veteran reliever Octavio Dotel.

Lambo’s suspension resulted from a second positive test for a drug of abuse, according to Major League Baseball. Among the drugs of abuse on baseball’s banned substance list are marijuana, cocaine, LSD and heroin.

The suspension was not the first time Lambo, 21, has been in trouble for drugs. As a sophomore at Cleveland High in Reseda, Lambo was caught smoking marijuana on school grounds. After transferring to Newbury Park, Lambo professed to have learned his lesson.

But with two strikes now against him, Lambo is well aware what strike three could mean for his baseball career.

“I know I disappointed some people and I let a lot of people down and those people told me that,” said Lambo, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2007 amateur draft. “But the Dodgers know that I love this game and that I love the Dodgers. They said, as much as I let them down, it doesn’t mean they have completely lost all trust in me. They still believe in me and it’s a part of forgiveness.”

But Lambo learned through Saturday’s actions the business side of baseball supersedes any emotional connections.

During his suspension, Lambo was sent to the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Arizona. Along with performing various baseball activities, he underwent counseling and met with a sports psychologist.

Although he wasn’t assured of returning to Chattanooga after his suspension, Lambo’s teammates on the Lookouts continued to call and send him encouraging text messages.

“That really meant a lot,” Lambo said. “No one has judged me any differently. Everybody loved me and they always will. I really thank them for that.”

Outfielder Trayvon Robinson, a Los Angeles native, has known Lambo since Lambo played against Robinson’s little brother in high school.

“He came back and apologized to us about the situation, and we forgave him,” Robinson said. “Everyone makes mistakes. Andrew is a good kid and a great player. People here really care for him and support him.”

Lambo entered this season ranked seventh among Dodgers prospects by Baseball America. He was hitting .342 with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs and 13 RBIs before his suspension. Since returning, Lambo’s average has dropped to .265.

“My main thing right now is winning ballgames and contributing to that however I can,” Lambo said. “I can’t really try getting all 50 games back in four at-bats in one night. It’s going to be a process and I can’t worry about what others think or say. I can only go out there and do my best every game.”

Lambo resided in San Diego last year during the offseason. But prior to the trade, he said he planned to live in Indiana this year with former minor league teammate Preston Mattingly, the son of Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly.

It’s one of many steps Lambo is taking to stay on the right path to the major leagues. A path that took another unexpected turn this weekend.

“The rest of my career is about showing everyone I am dedicated and I want to play baseball,” Lambo said. “I am just very thankful I have been given the chance to do that.”