Edouard Julien -- Prospect Evaluation

Edouard Julien was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB Draft directly from Auburn University. During his two collegiate seasons, Julien demonstrated significant offensive capabilities, batting .266/.393/.501 for a combined .894 OPS while accumulating 21 doubles, 1 triple, and 27 home runs across 127 games. His college performance exhibited the key characteristics that have defined his professional career: strong on-base skills and considerable power production. As a non-native English speaker who arrived at Auburn as an 18-year-old fluent only in French and Spanish, Julien overcame early language barriers to establish himself in the professional ranks. After a strong 2022 minor league season, Julien earned his first major league call-up with the Twins in April 2023, marking the culmination of his development from late-round draft prospect to active roster member.

Edouard Julien was promoted to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, replacing Joey Gallo, who was placed on the injured list with a right intercostal strain. The 23-year-old prospect, ranked No. 96 overall and No. 4 within the Twins organization by MLB Pipeline, was removed from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints lineup during their game in Indianapolis to complete the call-up.

Julien has demonstrated elite hitting credentials throughout his minor league career. Over the past two seasons, he led all minor leaguers with at least 1,000 plate appearances in both walks and on-base percentage. This season at Triple-A, he was batting .276 with a .417 on-base percentage and .517 slugging percentage. His advanced strike zone knowledge and ability to drive the ball with authority earned him top prospect recognition despite being an 18th-round draft pick.

While manager Rocco Baldelli and teammate Carlos Correa both praised Julien's hitting ability, there are concerns about his defensive versatility and whether he can stick at a single position. Baldelli acknowledged that while Julien's bat is strong enough to carry him at the major league level, he will need to develop as a competitive defender to remain in the lineup long-term. For now, the Twins will integrate him into the roster to evaluate his transition to MLB competition.

Edouard Julien, a 6'1" switch-hitting infielder from Auburn University and Quebec City, was drafted 539th overall in the 18th round by the Minnesota Twins and signed for $493,000. Scouts, including Jack Powell, Mark Quimuyog, and Walt Burrows, view Julien as possessing top-five round talent despite his late selection. Julien's primary asset is his offensive profile, specifically his plus raw power that plays to all fields. He generates this power through a compact swing with an uphill plane, explosive hands, and strong lower-half leverage, displaying impressive bat speed while keeping his hands close to his body. His approach emphasizes driving balls in the air, as evidenced by his ability to hit home runs to both sides of the field. However, Julien's profile follows a three true outcomes archetype: he will accumulate home runs while also striking out frequently. Though he demonstrates disciplined plate discipline and solid strike-zone knowledge, he struggles against spin and takes aggressive swings even in two-strike counts. Defensively, scouts question whether Julien can remain at third base at the professional level, presenting a potential positional concern. At a young age relative to the draft class, Julien represents an upside selection with clear talent despite being selected outside typical prospect recognition rounds.

Edouard Julien is a Canadian-born infielder originally drafted 539th overall by Minnesota in 2019. The 6'0" left-handed batter was ranked No. 451 coming out of secondary school in Canada in 2017 and impressed scouts with his quick hands and above-average speed. After two years at Auburn in the SEC, Julien demonstrated significant tool variance: his freshman season yielded a .275/.398/.556 slash line with 17 home runs, but his sophomore performance declined to .232/.367/.429 with a 27% strikeout rate across 54 games. The strikeout concerns were compounded by a .205/.289/.372 line with 33% strikeout rate in the Cape Cod League.

Julien's profile centers on plus raw power—among Auburn's best—but his hit tool remains questionable. However, he has maintained solid walk rates at approximately 15% over his two years, suggesting disciplined plate approach tendencies. Defensively, he lacks an obvious position fit but projects as a corner player at either third base or in the outfield. Originally ranked Minnesota's #4 prospect in 2023, Julien was subsequently traded to the Colorado Rockies along with RHP Pierson Ohl in exchange for RHP Jace Kaminska and cash. His young age (turning 20 around the 2019 draft) and demonstrated freshman-year performance may provide teams justification for developmental investment despite recent strikeout trends.