RougnedOdor

News: 4 days agoOdor is 6-for-12 with a double, two home runs and two walks over six simulated and intrasquad games, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Spin: Ever since last September when Texas management informed Odor he needs to change his plate approach, the second baseman has responded. He finished the 2019 season hitting .263/.340/.632 with nine homers and 26 RBI over the final 26 games. Odor followed up in spring training, going 11-for-31 with two homers and nine RBI in 12 Cactus League games. Despite the success he's achieved since September, Odor will not be given much leeway if he goes through a prolonged slump in 2020.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Among all second basemen through their respective age-25 seasons, Odor's 136 career home runs dwarfs the rest of the field, coming in 47 ahead of second place. That sounds like the start of a Hall of Fame career, not the career of a player whose future as a starter appeared to be in serious doubt late last season. The rest of Odor's stat line reveals why the Rangers have grown frustrated with him. While he hit at least 30 homers in three of the last four seasons, he also hit .205 or worse in two of the last three. In 2019, his K% shot up to 30.6 as he managed a poor .205/.283/.439 slash line and played below-average defense. He still looks like a starter for now, but don't be surprised if this is the year Odor moves to the bench.