Odor’s suspension reduced to 7 games, starts Friday

FILE - In this May 15, 2016, Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista, left, is hit by Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, right, after Bautista slid into second in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. Odor's suspension for punching Bautista was reduced to seven games, and the Texas second baseman started serving it Friday, May 27, 2016. (Richard W. Rodriguez/Star-Telegram via AP, File) MAGAZINES OUT (FORT WORTH WEEKLY, 360 WEST); INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT FILE - In this May 15, 2016, Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista, left, is hit by Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, right, after Bautista slid into second in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. Odor's suspension for punching Bautista was reduced to seven games, and the Texas second baseman started serving it Friday, May 27, 2016. (Richard W. Rodriguez/Star-Telegram via AP, File) MAGAZINES OUT (FORT WORTH WEEKLY, 360 WEST); INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press May 27, 2016 3 min read

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor started serving his suspension Friday for punching Toronto’s Jose Bautista after the penalty was reduced from eight to seven games.

Odor was out of the lineup for the series opener against Pittsburgh. He will be eligible to return June 4 when Texas is home against Seattle.

Bautista was suspended one game, and he was serving that Friday, when the penalty was upheld a day after his appeal was heard.

The Rangers promoted former top prospect Jurickson Profar from Triple-A Round Rock, and he was in the lineup against the Pirates as the leadoff hitter playing second base. Odor had been leading off.

Odor’s penalty was cut by Major League Baseball special assistant John McHale Jr. The appeal over Odor’s role in a May 15 brawl between the Rangers and Blue Jays was heard Tuesday. The league disciplined 14 players and staff over the melee in Arlington .