Odor Has Night of Firsts

Let's face it, Rougned Odor should still be in Double-A Frisco, tearing up the competition for the RoughRiders.

But he's not. Instead, he's being thrown into the fire as a 20-year-old tasked with filling the Rangers' void at second base until Jurickson Profar returns from a shoulder injury, which could be another month.

On Monday night, Odor had a big night in the Texas Rangers' 4-0 win over the Houston Astros.

Odor drove in his first big-league run with a single up the middle. Later on in the sixth inning, he scored the Rangers' final run on an absolute monster shot into the upper deck in right field at Minute Maid Park on a violent, yet so, so sweet swing from the pint-sized lefty.

"He can hit the ball a long way for a small guy," Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters after the game. "I'm not surprised, though. I've been throwing him batting practice. I've seen how far he can hit the ball."

He definitely gave it a ride. That and the RBI weren't his only big-league firsts, either.

He also had a sharp grounder bounce up and into his shirt for the first time in his career, and almost definitely the last, as he saw an infield single arise from a ball in the shirt that he couldn't get out quick enough to throw out the runner.

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Just an oddity on a big night of big firsts for Odor, who will have many more big moments, whether it's with the Rangers, the RoughRiders or another big-league club after he's dealt for a big name at some point.

The Rangers are loaded up in the middle infield, and on Monday night, Odor showed it.

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