Rockies Make Cutthroat Decision on Former ROY Candidate

The Colorado Rockies have outrighted infielder Edouard Julien to Triple-A Albuquerque after he cleared waivers. The move comes shortly after the club designated him for assignment earlier this week to clear roster space for the recall of outfielder Zac Veen.

Julien, who turned 27 this year, once carried the promise of a core piece for the Minnesota Twins organization.

In the minors, he flashed an advanced approach at the plate built around patience and on-base skills, even as questions lingered about his defensive consistency and a tendency to strike out.

That combination translated effectively in his first extended major league look.

During the 2023 season he appeared in 109 games and recorded 408 plate appearances, finishing with a .263/.381/.459 slash line, 16 home runs and a 134 wRC+.

His 15.7 percent walk rate stood out, offsetting a lofty 31.4 percent strikeout rate, while a .371 batting average on balls in play provided some extra boost. He spent most of his defensive innings at second base and first base, and even finished seventh in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

The years that followed brought a clear drop in production.

Across 785 plate appearances beginning in 2024, Julien managed only 14 home runs and a .208/.307/.313 line. Walks remained part of his game, yet the power and overall impact when putting the ball in play largely disappeared.

After using up his final minor league option season in Minnesota, he was traded to Colorado. The move to Coors Field failed to spark a rebound, and his current standing was low enough that no other club claimed him off waivers.

This marks Julien’s first career outright assignment. Because he remains short of three years of major league service time, he lacks the ability to elect free agency.

The Rockies therefore retain him as organizational depth and will give him the chance to rediscover his swing with the Albuquerque Isotopes.

Whether the change of scenery and regular at-bats can restore the version of Julien who impressed in 2023 remains an open question, but the club now has the flexibility to monitor his progress without occupying a 40-man roster spot.