Texas Rangers infielder Rougned Odor took the league by storm two years ago. But throughout 2017 and the first half of 2018, he struggled mightily. Now he’s on a hot stretch, and it could be long-term.
When Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor clubbed more than 30 home runs as a 22-year-old, fans expected him to be the next big thing in the league. And he offered exceptional power once again in 2017, compiling 30 bombs again.
But the rest of his numbers were disappointing, as he posted a .649 OPS.
The Texas infielder continued to sport egregious stats in the first half of this season. His pre-All-Star slash was an unimpressive .239/.319/.378.
Now it seems like he’s figured it all out at the plate. His second-half numbers suggest he has at least.
Odor smacked six home runs across the previous seven games, and he’s boosted his triple-slash to a solid .274/.354/.474.
Surely, the second baseman won’t keep owning a 2.289 OPS throughout August. Yet he can keep his overall pace up as the season progresses. But he still has a ways to go to reach his 30-homer threshold.
Nevertheless, his recent plate discipline numbers haven’t been seen before. Even in his career campaign in 2016, the Rangers hitter walked just 19 times in 632 plate appearances.
More from Texas Rangers
- Texas Rangers: Josh Jung breaks thumb, Jonathan Ornelas to be called up
- Stock Up, Stock Down: MLB trade deadline winners and losers
- MLB Trade Deadline: AL West roundup with Rangers, Angels, Astros wishlist, A’s and Mariners for sale
- Stock Up, Stock Down: Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers
- What we got right and wrong about 3 surprising and disappointing MLB teams
He already surpassed that number this year, as he compiled 28 free passes across 327 plate appearances. And he was the first player in MLB history to accrue five walks in one game – none of which were intentional.
While his walk rate is still minute compared to most players throughout the league, it is his best ratio since he joined the league in 2014.
Also, the Texas player made strides in the past few weeks to stop swinging at pitches outside the zone. Thus far, the Rangers infielder has dropped his percentage by nearly six percentage points since 2016. And Odor doesn’t swing at nearly as many overall pitches as he used to.
Although Odor is not making as much contact as he used to in his first two MLB seasons, he improved in that category by two percentage points this season.
Since Odor’s numbers have improved greatly across the past month, he now ranks in the top five in several categories amongst second basemen with at least 300 at-bats. Of course, he hasn’t been nearly as consistent as guys like Javier Baez and Ozzie Albies.
Nevertheless, the Texas Rangers infielder has potential to become a premier second baseman. Again, he is just 24 years old.
And if he can continue improving at the plate, his ceiling is exceptionally high.