Rougned Odor made certain that his place in baseball history is secure. Back on May 15, 2016, the then Texas Rangers second baseman took exception to a slide by Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista. Usually, in this case, the players exchange words, and that is the end of it.
Instead, Odor ended up with the biggest hit of his career. He landed an overhand right to Bautista’s jaw that sent his sunglasses and helmet flying off. To Bautista’s credit, he kept his feet from that punch, fighting back until the two sides were separated.
Texas Rangers celebrate Rougned Odor
Odor may not be a part of the Rangers any longer, but that does not mean that he will not be celebrated. That punch made him a fan favorite and an instantly recognizable face in the game. It is also a moment that is celebrated to this day, with the Rangers putting out a tweet to commemorate that anniversary.
At the time, Odor was an up and coming second baseman, a player whose combination of speed and power had him seemingly on track to be a future star. The Rangers signed him to a long term extension, hoping that they had a bargain on their hands.
Instead, belting Bautista was one of the last big hits of his career. Odor has posted a .212/.278/.408 batting line in his 2373 plate appearances since the start of the 2017 season, hitting 104 homers and stealing 38 bases. It is as though Bautista’s beard stole Odor’s potential during that punch to the jaw.
These days, Odor is barely hanging on to a major league job. Although he is just 28 years old, he is slotted in as the Orioles’ second baseman and is in the midst of his worst season in the majors. Instead of being in the midst of his prime and establishing himself as the star the Rangers hoped for, he may not be in the majors much longer. But he will always have that punch to look back on.
It is hard to believe that six years have passed since Rougned Odor punched Jose Bautista. The Texas Rangers are making sure to commemorate this day.