Rangers notes: Red-hot Odor awarded with first AL player of week honor
Since his return from Triple A Round Rock, second baseman Rougned Odor has been the most consistent hitter in the Rangers’ lineup. He took it up a notch the past week and was rewarded with his first career American League Player of the Week honor after batting .385 with nine runs scored, three homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in six games.
It’s the first time a Rangers player has earned the award since Kevin Kouzmanoff did it in April last season.
Among his AL counterparts, Odor finished the period first in runs scored, tied for first in extra-base hits (7), second in slugging percentage (.923), tied for third in total bases (24), tied for fourth in RBIs and tied for sixth in home runs.
“It feels amazing. I’ve been working hard every day and it feels good,” said Odor, who is hitting .366 since returning to the Rangers on June 15.
The key for Odor’s resurgence, manager Jeff Banister said, is that he’s no longer trying to “yank every ball.”
“I think he came to spring training thinking he was going to be a slugger,” he said. “He was going to hit a bunch of home runs. I think he’s come to the realization now that most home runs are mistakes by the pitchers. You go up there trying to jerk everything into the seats; it doesn’t really work out for you.”
Odor has become a more disciplined hitter while not losing his aggressiveness by understanding how pitchers are attacking him, Elvis Andrus said.
“With aggressive guys they’re going to throw a lot of breaking pitches early to make him chase, so he’s taking a lot of pitches,” Andrus said. “He’s walking a lot. When you do that you make the pitcher make the adjustment, not yourself.”
Odor has been a second spark plug to go along with Delino DeShields. Odor batted leadoff on Monday with DeShields getting some rest.
“He went back and found the player that everybody described to me,” Banister said of Odor’s month and a half in the minors. “The player you guys have seen before, who plays with an edge, plays with an energy, a passion and intensity.”
The balancing act for Odor is to keep his newfound plate discipline while maintaining his competitive edge, or chip on his shoulder.
“That edge is necessary,” Banister said. “That’s why everybody in Houston wanted to boo him. I told him that’s a good thing. If you’re making another team’s crowd boo you that means you’ve done something.”
Klein recalled
Right-hander Ross Ohlendforf, who has been plagued by injuries, including multiple groin strains since joining the Rangers in spring training, was designated for assignment Monday.
Phil Klein was recalled from Triple A Round Rock to replace Anthony Bass, who was optioned to the minors after allowing three earned runs on four hits in his last two innings in Anaheim.
Klein has been superb for Round Rock with an 0.91 ERA in 292/3 innings. This is his third stint with the Rangers this season and first since May 20-27.
Texas has 10 days to trade, release, or outright Ohlendorf to the minor leagues.
Kela, Tolleson collide
Pitchers Keone Kela and Shawn Tolleson collided while shagging balls during batting practice before Monday’s game. The Rangers said Kela is fine. Tolleson was looked at by trainers and available out of the bullpen Monday night.
This story was originally published July 27, 2015 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Rangers notes: Red-hot Odor awarded with first AL player of week honor."