MLB fans react to iconic Roughned Odor and Jose Bautista brawl on its 7th anniversary: "The best punch in baseball history"

Seven years have passed since one of the iconic moments in MLB history - the infamous brawl between Roughned Odor and Jose Bautista.

The bench-clearing skirmish occured during a 2016 game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers after Bautista slid into Odor in the second base, which was an illegal move at the time. MLB fans remembered the incident on social media as they shared their memory of the moment.

When the incident occured, Jose Bautista was a seasoned veteran who had been around the MLB for a few years. He had started his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles and spent a few years with the Pittsburgh Pirates before joining the Toronto Blue Jays.

Roughned Odor, meanwhile, was a young young and upcoming player who was playing the third MLB season of his career with the Rangers since his debut in 2014. The brawl the two players started would be remembered as one of the most shameful yet iconic moments in MLB history.

The incident occuered after Bautista slid in hard into second baseman Odor during a double play. While there appeared to be no contact in the slide, it was an illegal move, and the two squared off.

Odor then threw the first punch which caught Bautista square on the face, and what followed next was havoc. Both benches were cleared as some players joined the brawl, while others tried to stop it.

MLB fans still remember the incident after seven years, which has become an annual ritual to post on social media.

Where are Roughned Odor and Jose Bautista now?

While MLB fans recollect the infamous incident of seven years ago, let us take a look at where the two central figures are now.

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista went on to play for the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves before retiring with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 with six All-Star appearances and several personal accolades.

Roughned Odor, meanwhile, joined the San Diego Padres this year after short stints with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles after leaving the Texas Rangers.

About the author

Nishant Borooah is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2023 and has a degree in Media Studies and Journalism.

Nishant is currently pursuing a diploma in Sports Marketing, and his interest in baseball was piqued early on by his father, who fell in love with baseball as a student in the US. His father used to regale him with stories about America's favorite pastime and they have left an impression on him.

Currently residing in Toronto, Nishant is a Blue Jays fan. revering Ichiro Suzuki growing up, Nishant remains in awe of the Japanese legend's longevity and sheer passion for the game. Suzuki's return to the Seattle Mariners in 2018 remains one of Nishant's favorite MLB moments.

One of Nishant's strengths is that he always covers the technical side of the story, and he is also particular about historical context to ensure articles are informative and easy to follow.

Besides being a writer, Nishant is also a soccer coach who has worked with several clubs in India like Shillong Lajong FC and RoundGlass Punjab FC.

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