Major League Baseball on Thursday lightened the penalty on Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, cutting his suspension to seven games, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Joe Garagiola, MLB’s czar of discipline, had given Odor an eight-game suspension for punching Toronto’s Jose Bautista during a scuffle on May 15. John McHale Jr., MLB’s chief information officer and executive vice president of administration, reduced the suspension after hearing a three-hour appeal on Tuesday.
Odor must begin the suspension on Friday. The Rangers cannot replace him on the roster.
The club is expected to promote middle infielder Jurickson Profar, rebuilding his career after two injury-plagued seasons, from Triple-A Round Rock to play second during Odor’s absence.