The San Diego Padres made some savvy moves during the recent offseason in their quest for their first World Series title. One of these acquisitions was veteran infielder Rougned Odor, who joined the team on a minor league deal. No one expected Odor to make a contribution to the team, but fortunately, that hasn't been the case.
Although his primary role is providing support off the bench, he has excelled in that role and beyond. He has quickly become a beloved figure in the clubhouse, and his teammates are taking notice.
Padres superstar Juan Soto kept it short and sweet when talking about the 29-year-old.
“He’s a winner,” Soto said. “He’s coming every day to work. … He’s a great dude.”
Padres rookie catcher Brett Sullivan also had some kind words for his teammate.
“He’s been playing a lot more and when he gets those at-bats where he fouls a ball off and looks right at the pitcher like, ‘Hey, we’re not not afraid,’ we feed off that,” Sullivan said. “… To have him do that and then to have him have success, everyone is feeding off it, and then that helps the other big dogs. He’s big for us.”
So far, San Diego signing him to a minor league deal seems like a steal. He has seamlessly integrated himself into the Padres' system, offering a blend of experience, talent, and invaluable intangibles.
Odor is currently slashing .221/.303/.426 with a .729 OPS, three home runs, and 14 RBIs in 27 games and 68 ABs.
If he can be consistent when he takes the field, Odor can be the difference for the Frairs every now and then. We hope he can keep up his great play while being a good piece to the clubhouse.
More must-reads: