Edouard Julien

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #4 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: When the Twins drafted Julien in 2019, the Quebec native was one of the youngest eligible college players in the class. He had been a consistent power threat at Auburn, and his 429-foot home run in the 2019 College World Series was at the time tied for the longest in TD Ameritrade Park history. As a pro, Julien has been an on-base machine. His 208 walks during the 2021-22 seasons are 30 more than any other minor leaguer, and his .437 on-base percentage is best at the 700 plate appearance cutoff. Julien boosted his stock in the Arizona Fall League, which he led with a .400 average, .563 OBP and 1.249 OPS while popping five homers in 21 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Julien's combination of strengths and weaknesses makes him an intriguing but somewhat limited prospect. He knows how to work counts and get on base, and his above-average power will make a pitcher pay for a mistake. But going back to his college days at Auburn, he has struggled to find a position to play. The Twins have worked extensively with Julien on his defense, but he still lacks a clear position. His hands have improved, but his limited range makes him well below-average at second base. He also played third base at Auburn and then in 2021 as a Twins minor leaguer, but left field or first base are his most likely landing spots. Even at those positions, the hope is he can be playable defensively. Before 2022, Julien had never hit even .275 in a season, either as a pro or at Auburn, but he raised that to .300 at Double-A Wichita. As a hitter, Julien works counts, hits line drives and has average power to punish a pitcher who falls behind in the count. He's not nearly as effective against lefthanders.
  
  The Future: Julien's ability to get on base and hit righthanders will earn him a big league job, possibly as early as 2023. Improving on defense and at the plate against lefties could help him earn a larger role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Run: 45. Fielding: 30. Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #26 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Julien was a prominent amateur player dating back to his prep days when he impressed scouts with his lefthanded swing with the Canadian Junior National Team. The Twins signed Julien for $493,500 in the 18th round of the 2019 draft as an eligible sophomore. He led all minor league hitters with 110 walks in his first pro season in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Julien has one of the keenest eyes in minor league baseball. He rarely expands the zone, and his chase rate is reportedly among the best in the minors. He walked at a 24.5% clip in Low-A Fort Myers and after being promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids still walked at a 19.4% rate. Some scouts have put plus raw power grades on him as well, and Julien smacked 18 home runs and 28 doubles between both levels. Just seven minor league hitters managed 15+ homers, 25+ doubles and a .400+ on-base percentage in 2021 (including Jose Miranda) and of that group, only Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe was younger than Julien. Julien played first, second, third and left field, but he profiles best at a corner and is likely a better fit in the outfield than in the dirt with below-average speed and fringy defensive ability.
  
  The Future: The Twins have plenty of corner profiles in front of Julien, but he excels at getting on base and has some power to go with it. How his approach fairs against upper-level pitching is the next question.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #203 prospect in 2019 draft
  Ranked No. 451 on the BA 500 coming out of secondary school in Canada in 2017, Julien impressed scouts with the Canadian Junior National Team with a loose, lefthanded swing, quick hands and above-average speed. Now, after just two years with Auburn in the SEC, Julien is a draft-eligible sophomore thanks to one of his secondary school years counting the same as one year of junior college. Because of that, Julien is one of the younger four-year players in the class, and he will turn 20 just a month before the draft. He's a bit of a split-camp player for teams, however, as he has plus raw power--some of the best on Auburn's club--but there are questions about his hit tool. After posting a .275/.398/.556 slash line with 17 home runs as a freshman, Julien has hit just .232/.367/.429 with eight home runs and a 27 percent strikeout rate through 54 games this spring. The whiffs are concerning, and Julien similarly struggled in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .205/.289/.372 with a 33 percent strikeout rate. The good news is that he has always walked at a solid clip--roughly 15 percent of the time over his two years with the Tigers. Given his age and 2018 performance, teams might be willing to take a shot. Defensively, Julien doesn't have an obvious fit, but he profiles as a corner player in some capacity, whether that's at third base or in the outfield.
• Ranked #451 prospect in 2017 draft
  Julien played second base for the Canadian Junior National team this spring. He's a lefthanded hitter with a loose, handsy swing and quick hands. Julien shows plus-plus raw speed, running the 60-yard dash in 6.5 seconds. He's a bit undersized and will have to get stronger for his bat speed to translate into useable power. Julien is committed to Auburn, but teams could take a shot at signing him after the tenth round.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: When the Twins drafted Julien in 2019, the Quebec native was one of the youngest eligible college players in the class. He had been a consistent power threat at Auburn, and his 429-foot home run in the 2019 College World Series was at the time tied for the longest in TD Ameritrade Park history. As a pro, Julien has been an on-base machine. His 208 walks during the 2021-22 seasons are 30 more than any other minor leaguer, and his .437 on-base percentage is best at the 700 plate appearance cutoff. Julien boosted his stock in the Arizona Fall League, which he led with a .400 average, .563 OBP and 1.249 OPS while popping five homers in 21 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Julien's combination of strengths and weaknesses makes him an intriguing but somewhat limited prospect. He knows how to work counts and get on base, and his above-average power will make a pitcher pay for a mistake. But going back to his college days at Auburn, he has struggled to find a position to play. The Twins have worked extensively with Julien on his defense, but he still lacks a clear position. His hands have improved, but his limited range makes him well below-average at second base. He also played third base at Auburn and then in 2021 as a Twins minor leaguer, but left field or first base are his most likely landing spots. Even at those positions, the hope is he can be playable defensively. Before 2022, Julien had never hit even .275 in a season, either as a pro or at Auburn, but he raised that to .300 at Double-A Wichita. As a hitter, Julien works counts, hits line drives and has average power to punish a pitcher who falls behind in the count. He's not nearly as effective against lefthanders.
  
  The Future: Julien's ability to get on base and hit righthanders will earn him a big league job, possibly as early as 2023. Improving on defense and at the plate against lefties could help him earn a larger role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Run: 45. Fielding: 30. Arm: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: When the Twins drafted Julien in 2019, the Quebec native was one of the youngest eligible college players in the class. He had been a consistent power threat at Auburn, and his 429-foot home run in the 2019 College World Series was at the time tied for the longest in TD Ameritrade Park history. As a pro, Julien has been an on-base machine. His 208 walks during the 2021-22 seasons are 30 more than any other minor leaguer, and his .437 on-base percentage is best at the 700 plate appearance cutoff. Julien boosted his stock in the Arizona Fall League, which he led with a .400 average, .563 OBP and 1.249 OPS while popping five homers in 21 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Julien's combination of strengths and weaknesses makes him an intriguing but somewhat limited prospect. He knows how to work counts and get on base, and his above-average power will make a pitcher pay for a mistake. But going back to his college days at Auburn, he has struggled to find a position to play. The Twins have worked extensively with Julien on his defense, but he still lacks a clear position. His hands have improved, but his limited range makes him well below-average at second base. He also played third base at Auburn and then in 2021 as a Twins minor leaguer, but left field or first base are his most likely landing spots. Even at those positions, the hope is he can be playable defensively. Before 2022, Julien had never hit even .275 in a season, either as a pro or at Auburn, but he raised that to .300 at Double-A Wichita. As a hitter, Julien works counts, hits line drives and has average power to punish a pitcher who falls behind in the count. He's not nearly as effective against lefthanders.
  
  The Future: Julien's ability to get on base and hit righthanders will earn him a big league job, possibly as early as 2023. Improving on defense and at the plate against lefties could help him earn a larger role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Run: 45. Fielding: 30. Arm: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record:: Julien was a prominent amateur player dating back to his prep days when he impressed scouts with his lefthanded swing with the Canadian Junior National Team. The Twins signed Julien for $493,500 in the 18th round of the 2019 draft as an eligible sophomore. He led all minor league hitters with 110 walks in his first pro season in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Julien has one of the keenest eyes in minor league baseball. He rarely expands the zone, and his chase rate is reportedly among the best in the minors. He walked at a 24.5% clip in Low-A Fort Myers and after being promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids still walked at a 19.4% rate. Some scouts have put plus raw power grades on him as well, and Julien smacked 18 home runs and 28 doubles between both levels. Just seven minor league hitters managed 15+ homers, 25+ doubles and a .400+ on-base percentage in 2021 (including Jose Miranda) and of that group, only Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe was younger than Julien. Julien played first, second, third and left field, but he profiles best at a corner and is likely a better fit in the outfield than in the dirt with below-average speed and fringy defensive ability.
  
  The Future: The Twins have plenty of corner profiles in front of Julien, but he excels at getting on base and has some power to go with it. How his approach fairs against upper-level pitching is the next question.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Julien was a prominent amateur player dating back to his prep days when he impressed scouts with his lefthanded swing with the Canadian Junior National Team. The Twins signed Julien for $493,500 in the 18th round of the 2019 draft as an eligible sophomore. He led all minor league hitters with 110 walks in his first pro season in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Julien has one of the keenest eyes in minor league baseball. He rarely expands the zone, and his chase rate is reportedly among the best in the minors. He walked at a 24.5% clip in Low-A Fort Myers and after being promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids still walked at a 19.4% rate. Some scouts have put plus raw power grades on him as well, and Julien smacked 18 home runs and 28 doubles between both levels. Just seven minor league hitters managed 15+ homers, 25+ doubles and a .400+ on-base percentage in 2021 (including Jose Miranda) and of that group, only Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe was younger than Julien. Julien played first, second, third and left field, but he profiles best at a corner and is likely a better fit in the outfield than in the dirt with below-average speed and fringy defensive ability.
  
  The Future: The Twins have plenty of corner profiles in front of Julien, but he excels at getting on base and has some power to go with it. How his approach fairs against upper-level pitching is the next question.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  An 18th-round pick in 2019 out of Auburn, Julien hit his way to High-A early this season. More appropriately, he walked there. Julien ranked among the minor league leaders for walks and had demonstrated more ability to make contact and drive the ball. His position is undetermined as he tries his hand at second base, third base and left field.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Ranked No. 451 on the BA 500 coming out of secondary school in Canada in 2017, Julien impressed scouts with the Canadian Junior National Team with a loose, lefthanded swing, quick hands and above-average speed. Now, after just two years with Auburn in the SEC, Julien is a draft-eligible sophomore thanks to one of his secondary school years counting the same as one year of junior college. Because of that, Julien is one of the younger four-year players in the class, and he will turn 20 just a month before the draft. He's a bit of a split-camp player for teams, however, as he has plus raw power--some of the best on Auburn's club--but there are questions about his hit tool. After posting a .275/.398/.556 slash line with 17 home runs as a freshman, Julien has hit just .232/.367/.429 with eight home runs and a 27 percent strikeout rate through 54 games this spring. The whiffs are concerning, and Julien similarly struggled in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .205/.289/.372 with a 33 percent strikeout rate. The good news is that he has always walked at a solid clip--roughly 15 percent of the time over his two years with the Tigers. Given his age and 2018 performance, teams might be willing to take a shot. Defensively, Julien doesn't have an obvious fit, but he profiles as a corner player in some capacity, whether that's at third base or in the outfield.