Rougned Odor didn’t hesitate to punch Jose Bautista in the face last month, and he made it clear he doesn’t necessarily regret the incident. However, the Texas Rangers second baseman admits he was partly at fault in the brawl.
The Texas Rangers second baseman participated in an interview with ESPN Deportes reporter Marly Rivera, who asked Odor multiple questions regarding the fight. One of those questions was, “Has this incident given people the wrong impression of who you are?” Odor’s response was the closest he’s come to admitting to being in the wrong for throwing a punch at Bautista.
"“Maybe. After what happened, people who don’t know baseball may have a bad impression of me, but people who know baseball do know that those things are a part of the game. Perhaps he was wrong, and perhaps I was also wrong.”"
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That’s not exactly the clearest admittance of wrongdoing, but that seems to be the most we’ll get out of the 22-year-old.
He’s right about one thing, though. What happened between him and Bautista was simply part of the game. It was only a matter of time until things escalated between the Blue Jays and Rangers considering the events that took place last October, and Odor just happened to be the guy who added fuel to the fire.
Unfortunately for him, people might not buy his “part of the game” explanation due to his past history with fights on the diamond. Immediately after Odor’s incident with Bautista, a 2011 video surfaced of him involving himself in an eerily similar brawl while in the minors. Rivera asked Odor if he was upset that the media showed another video of him fighting.
"“I thought that was unfair. But it’s out of my hands. I can’t do anything about that. If they wanted to bring that to light now way after it happened, then go ahead. I have nothing to hide.”"
Odor seems set on leaving his past violent encounters on the baseball field in the rearview mirror. That won’t be an easy task, as it’s fair to say as of today he’s known more for being “the guy who punched Jose Bautista in the face” than he is for his ability.
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Of course, saying he has plenty of time to change that is a huge understatement. He’s only 22 and a pretty solid all-around player. If and when he improves his plate discipline, Odor has what it takes to be one of the more exciting young players in baseball for more positive reasons than what he’s made headlines for recently.