Texas Rangers: Rougned Odor returned to Globe Life Field in style

The New York Yankees needed a boost following their loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday, and they were able to find it via a player that we are all too familiar with. Rougned Odor, making his first appearance in Texas since being traded to New York earlier this season, recorded two base hits.

Batting behind the likes of Gio Urshela in the five-hole, Odor went 2-5 with a single and a double. It was a much needed bust of energy for the Yankees coming off Monday night’s loss, a burst of energy that New York is likely going to continue to rely on throughout the rest of the series as their overall roster depth remains rather thin at the moment.

Rougned Odor’s return against the Texas Rangers was a triumphant one.

Odor, a seven-year veteran with the Rangers prior to this season’s trade, got some much deserved applause during his first at-bat last night. Odor was a core piece to the Rangers success in the mid-2010s, and played with a type of energy and passion that really defined what it meant to be a Texas Ranger at the time.

Sad as it may have been, Odor’s early season trade wasn’t much of a surprise to people who follow the team closely. The organization is still deep into a multi-year rebuild at the moment, and are likely to offload another handful of veterans leading into this year’s trade deadline.

With 26 year old Nick Solak off to a hot start this season as well, the decision to move Odor is looking like a completely reasonable one in hindsight.

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Odor has yet to really get going for New York. He’s batting just .182 with a .659 OPS, numbers that are comparable to Odor’s below average 2020 campaign with the Rangers. However, Odor does bring a sense of leadership to the Yankees clubhouse, and his ability to slide in at 2B is much needed considering NY’s infield defense hasn’t been the greatest over the past couple of seasons.

Odor proving some pop off the bench or in the starting lineup would definitely be appreciated as well, but that likely isn’t the only thing NYY is looking to get out of Odor this season.

While he played villain during last night’s loss, the Texas Rangers players and fans alike are correct in their decision to show Odor some love this week. The second baseman even apologized to the Rangers front office regime when informed of their decision to part ways with him, really showcasing the accountability that Odor plays the game with.

The Rangers will likely see Odor in the Yankees’ lineup tonight and on Thursday, as both teams look to get a leg up in this American League showdown. The Rangers are looking to play spoiler with Hyeon-jang Yang on the mound tonight, while the Yankees will give the Rangers their first taste of Corey Kluber since he departed the Lone Star state earlier this offseason.