Odor & Sardinas promoted to Rangers

FRISCO, TEXAS (MAY 8, 2014) - Frisco RoughRiders middle infielders Rougned Odor (pronounced "ROOG-ned oh-DORE") and Luis Sardinas (pronounced "sar-DEEN-yas") have been promoted to the Texas Rangers and will be on the active roster for tonight's game against Colorado in Arlington. Odor's contract has been purchased by the Rangers and he has been added to the 25-man roster while Sardinas, already on the 40-man roster, heads back to the big league club after an eight-day stint with Texas last month.

Odor, 20, started all 32 games for Frisco this season and hit .279 (36 for 129) with two doubles, one triple, six home runs, 17 runs batted in, 21 runs scored and six steals in nine attempts. He posted a .314 on-base percentage and a .450 slugging percentage (.763 OPS). The Rangers' top-ranked prospect according to Baseball America, he is tied for second in the Texas League in home runs, is fourth in hits and is tied for third in total bases (58). The club's everyday second baseman, Odor departs Frisco on a nine-game Texas League hitting streak, over which he is batting .421 with one double, one triple, three home runs and ten runs batted in. He hit homers in each of his last two games with the RoughRiders and finished a single shy of the cycle on Tuesday.  

When he makes his major league debut, Odor will become the 111th RoughRiders player to play in the big leagues, joining former 'Riders Sardinas, Nick Martinez and Neil Ramirez who have also made their debuts this season. The second-youngest player in Double-A during his time in Frisco, Odor is now the youngest player in Major League Baseball (nearly a full year younger than Jurickson Profar, the former RoughRiders infielder who previously held that distinction. 

Signed as a non-drafted free agent by Texas on January 3, 2011 out of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Odor made his professional debut that year with Advanced-Rookie Spokane. He played for both of the Rangers' Single-A affiliates over the next two seasons before receiving a promotion to Frisco on August 1, 2013. In 30 games last season for the RoughRiders, Odor hit .306 (41 for 134)/.354/.530 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 19 runs batted in, 20 runs scored and five steals in eight attempts. He was invited to major league spring training this past February as a non-roster invitee. In 12 Cactus League games he hit .238 (5 for 21)/.304/.286 with one double, two runs batted in and three runs scored.

Sardinas, 20, receives his second promotion the major leagues this season. He was initially promoted to Texas on April 19 and appeared in three games for the Rangers, going 1 for 3 with a run scored. He had an infield single in his first MLB plate appearance on April 20 against the Chicago White Sox. 

A natural shortstop, Sardinas played in 21 games for the RoughRiders and hit .253 (22 for 87)/.278/.333 with five doubles, one triple, nine runs batted in, 12 runs scored and one steal in two attempts. 

The series finale against Midland is slated to begin at 11:05 a.m. and tickets for the contest remain available. Fans may purchase tickets at the Dr Pepper Ballpark box office, by calling (972) 334-1900 or by visiting www.RidersBaseball.com.  

The RoughRiders are in the midst of an eight-game home stand that continues through Sunday, May 11. For information on how to see the RoughRiders in 2014, please call (972) 731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.RidersBaseball.com. 

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team has finished first among all Double-A minor league teams in attendance each season from 2005 - 2013. The RoughRiders are owned by Mandalay Sports Entertainment, winners of the "Baseball Organization of the Year" in 2008 by Ballpark Digest. For more information on Mandalay Baseball Properties, the Frisco RoughRiders, and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please contact Alex Vispoli at (972) 334-1976 or via email at [email protected].