Rougned Odor
What to like
There is a definite theme among these four players–they can all impress in the home run category. None try harder to hit home runs than Rougned Odor. Odor swings at maximum effort whether the count is 2-0, 3-2, or 0-2. His overly aggressive approach works well enough for him to be labeled as one of the most powerful second basemen in baseball. Odor put forth back-to-back seasons of 30+ home runs. He can look completely lost in the first two games of a series and then strike for two home runs in the finale. He is the Rangers’ wildcard.
Rougned Odor is also a great clubhouse guy. For a Texas Rangers team that will likely be shipping off its veterans sometime in the near future, it’s nice to have an emerging player like Rougned Odor to have left behind. Odor is fiery, he takes the game very seriously (maybe too seriously at times), and he has the drive to play each and every day. He proved so in each of the last two seasons, playing 150 games in 2016, and all 162 games in 2017.
What he needs to prove in 2018
Like Mazara, Odor’s strength is also his weakness. In this case, Odor’s aggressiveness is much more of a problem than it is a solution. His home run total from 2017 was his only positive statistic. His numbers were primarily horrible. Here are some horrible statistics worth noting:
WAR: -0.2
OBP: .252
SLG: .397
BA: .204
It’s no secret that Rougned Odor is not one for a high batting average. But .204? Seriously? I don’t care if you hit 50 home runs to go along with it; there is no room for a .204 batting average in any major league lineup unless you’re a National League pitcher. And I marvel at Odor’s 30 home runs from last season. How does someone hit that many homers, yet, slug for only .397? It just doesn’t make sense.
Odor will have to make more contact. He and Joey Gallo are very similar in flaw. Gallo, however, can draw walks, play better defense, and knock the ball over the fence more often. Gallo carries value. Odor, not so much. At least not last year.
The Texas Rangers have a plan for Odor this spring. Their goal is to stress the different quadrants of the strike zone to Odor. If Odor can narrow his swing zone to, first of all, the strike zone, but more so the quadrant that is most generous to him, then he will find more frequent success. Like most left-handed hitters, Odor likes the ball out over the plate. He can catch up to an inside fastball, but he struggles mightily against low-and-in breaking balls. He needs to adjust in 2018.
Next: What can Adam Wainwright bring in 2018
MLB employs one-tool players, but usually not for long. Rougned Odor is currently a one-tool player. He has power but lacks in everything else. The Rangers invested a lot of money in Odor, and they have no plans to run from him now. A repeat season from 2017 may test the team’s patience to result in a rash decision.