|death_date={{death date and age|2008|11|5|1982|1|6}}
|death_place=[[Roswell, Georgia]]
}}
'''John C. Odom''' (January 6, 1982 – November 5, 2008) was a [[minor league baseball]] right-handed [[pitcher]] notable for being traded for ten [[baseball bat]]s. Because of this event he was known to fans as "Bat Man," "Bat Guy" and "Bat Boy."<ref name="salon">{{cite web |last=Walker|first=Ben|date=2009-03-03| url=http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/us/2009/03/03/D96MPF700_bbo_death_of_a_bat_man/index.html | title=A tragic end for minor leaguer traded for bats | accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref>
==Baseball career==
Odom, 6-foot-2, described himself as a "lost youth." He was kicked off of his high school baseball team in [[Roswell, Georgia]].<ref name="salon">{{cite web |last=Walker|first=Ben|date=2009-03-03| url=http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/us/2009/03/03/D96MPF700_bbo_death_of_a_bat_man/index.html | title=A tragic end for minor leaguer traded for bats | accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref> He then played two seasons for the [[Tallahassee Community College]] baseball team, going 6-1 with a 2.75 ERA in {{by|2004}}.<ref name="volcanoes">{{cite web| url=http://www.volcanoesbaseball.com/Rosters%20&%20Players/2006_volcanoes_roster_and_bio.htm | title=2005 Volcanoes Roster and Bio | accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref> In {{by|2003}}, he was drafted in the 44th round by the [[San Francisco Giants]].<ref name="salon"/> He played for the Giants' affiliates [[Salem Keizer Volcanoes]] in {{by|2004}} & {{by|2006}}, and the [[Augusta Greenjackets]] in {{by|2005}}.<ref name="espn">{{cite web| url=http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/story?id=3409864 | title=Independent team deals pitcher for 10 maple bats |author=[[Associated Press]]|date=2008-05-26| accessdate=2009-03-04|publisher=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref><ref name="bbr">{{cite web| url=http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=25585 | title=John Odom Statistics (Minor Leagues) | accessdate=2009-03-04|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> He missed most of the 2005 season because of a right elbow injury, having [[Tommy John surgery]] in June 2005.<ref name="volcanoes"/> He did not play in {{by|2007}} due to a dislocated left shoulder.<ref name="salon"/> In three seasons and 140.1 career innings in the Giants' farm system, Odom compiled a 3.98 ERA and averaged 7.35 strikeouts per nine innings.<ref name="bbr"/> He was minor league teammates with [[Tim Lincecum]] and [[Kevin Frandsen]].<ref name="salon"/>