The Ongoing Education of Edouard Julien

It wasn’t long ago that Edouard Julien seemed like one of the most promising young hitters on the Minnesota Twins. After a stellar rookie campaign in 2023, he looked like a potential fixture in the lineup for years to come. Yet, like many young players, the sophomore slump hit Julien hard. His patience at the plate—once an asset—became almost a detriment, as he found himself among the league leaders in called strikeouts.

Now, however, things may be starting to shift in Julien’s favor. While the numbers don’t jump off the page at first glance, a closer look suggests that Julien could be on the verge of turning a corner.

For most of the season, Julien’s chase rate has been impressively low, consistent with his reputation for superb plate discipline. But recently, there’s been a noticeable increase in the number of pitches he’s swinging at outside the zone, with his chase rate spiking to 33.3% over the past month, a stark increase from his 16.9% chase rate early in the season and 14.8% chase rate last season. For a hitter who had been so selective earlier to start his career, this might seem concerning at first glance. But instead of signaling a decline, this recent aggressiveness may actually be a sign of positive change.

In fact, Julien hasn’t walked in his last 10 games—a significant departure from his usual approach. This marks only the second time in his career that he’s gone this long without drawing a free pass. However, rather than being a red flag, this shift could indicate that Julien is feeling more confident at the plate, trusting his ability to put the ball in play rather than relying solely on walks.

Looking deeper into his recent performance, it’s clear that Julien has been making more solid contact, reminiscent of the line drives and well-hit fly balls we saw during his breakout last season. Before his most recent promotion in mid-August, Julien’s fly-ball rate was a high 36.4%, while his line-drive rate had dropped to 19.6%—a far cry from his 2023 numbers. Since coming back to the big leagues, he’s brought those numbers back in line with his successful rookie season. His fly-ball rate is now down to 25%, and his line-drive rate has climbed to an impressive 34.1%.

This change in batted-ball profile is key. Julien is getting back to his roots, focusing on driving the ball through gaps rather than trying to elevate too much. This is evident in his BABIP, which has risen from .300 earlier in the season to .350 since his return. The numbers suggest that he’s finding more success when putting the ball in play, giving himself better chances to beat the defense.

Another big factor in Julien’s resurgence has been his shift in approach. Earlier this season, his patience at the plate bordered on passivity. He led the league in called third strikes, watching too many hittable pitches sail by. In 63 games before his August promotion, Julien had racked up 39 called strikeouts, an alarming number for a hitter of his caliber. Since his return, though, he’s only been caught looking six times in 24 games. That’s a dramatic improvement, showing that he’s being more aggressive when it counts.

His walk rate has dropped from 12.9% to 7.2%, but it’s important to see this in context. Julien’s decrease in walks corresponds with his willingness to swing at more pitches, both in and out of the zone. For a hitter like him, striking the right balance between selectivity and aggressiveness is key. And while his recent chase rate might seem worrisome at first glance, it could actually be a sign that Julien is starting to feel more comfortable attacking pitches and taking control of his at-bats.

The next step for Julien is finding that middle ground, where he can harness his natural patience while also being assertive at the plate. We haven't seen his offensive numbers change too much yet, but with his revamped batting profile and a fresh aggressiveness at the plate, an offensive explosion may be just around the corner.

What do you think? Has Edouard Julien turned a corner at the plate, or is there still work to be done? Leave your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation!