"A top-100 prospect prior to his big league debut, he burst onto the MLB scene with a .263/.381/.459 slash (134 wRC+) and ripped 16 home runs in 408 plate appearances as a rookie. His 31.4% strikeout rate was clearly too high, but Julien also walked in nearly 16% of his plate appearances. Throughout his minor league tenure, he was hailed as something of an all-bat prospect who'd post huge OBP numbers with above-average power but lacked a clear defensive home."
"Still, DePodesta listed him as an option at both positions, noting that the Rockies are intrigued by Julien's minor league track record and terrific rookie season. The lack of a defensive home has proven true, but Julien's bat has wilted over the past two seasons. He's taken 509 MLB plate appearances since Opening Day 2024 and managed only a .208/.299/.324 batting line (79 wRC+). His walk rate has dipped to a still-strong 10.8%, while his strikeout rate has nominally climbed to 32%."
The Rockies acquired Edouard Julien and reliever Pierson Ohl from the Twins for minor league pitcher Jace Kaminska, and traded Angel Chivilli to the Yankees for first base prospect T.J. Rumfield. Both Julien and Rumfield could factor into big league plans at first base, and the team remains open to adding another first baseman to foster healthy competition and roster versatility. Julien's glove work at second base and first base has been criticized, but his minor league track record and 2023 rookie performance remain intriguing. Julien's production has declined since 2024, with a .208/.299/.324 batting line over 509 plate appearances and a 32% strikeout rate.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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