With the excitement of Royce Lewis’ return on the horizon, the Minnesota Twins faced a difficult roster decision, resulting in the emotional demotion of fan-favorite Edouard Julien to Triple-A St. Paul.
On Sunday, Julien sat in the locker room at Minute Maid Park, grappling with the news. Teammates Carlos Santana, Christian Vázquez, Bailey Ober, Willi Castro, and Manny Margot offered support, underscoring the respect and camaraderie within the clubhouse.
“It’s hard to see one of your brothers feeling that type of emotion,” Ryan Jeffers said. “There’s nothing we can actually say to make him feel better in the moment.”
Julien, who had a significant impact in 2023, found himself unable to withstand the roster squeeze prompted by Lewis’ return. Despite his improved defense and solid postseason performance, his .207/.309/.367 slash line and a team-high 34% strikeout rate necessitated a reset.
“Eddy knows he has real adjustments to make, and there’s no better time than now to make those adjustments,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “It doesn’t make the conversation easy. He feels bad, and I feel bad, too.”
The primary issue has been Julien’s struggle against offspeed pitches. With an MLB-leading 34 strikeouts looking and minimal damage against non-fastballs, pitchers have found a clear weakness. Julien’s .083 average against offspeed pitches this season highlights the challenge.
“You’ve got to do what you know is right for the team, but also for the player,” Baldelli continued. “He’s going to use this time productively and come back a much better version of himself.”
Jose Miranda’s resurgence complicated the situation further. Miranda, filling in at third base, has been essential with his .280/.311/.469 line and six homers, a stark contrast to his injury-plagued 2023 season.
“[Miranda] coming up big in a lot of these games for us offensively has been huge,” Baldelli said. “He’s one of the guys that has really stepped up and produced when we’ve needed it.”
In Julien’s absence, Castro will share second-base duties, while Miranda and Lewis will alternate between third base and designated hitter, with Miranda occasionally covering first base.
For Julien, the demotion is a chance to refine his approach in the minors. “It sucks when it’s going on, but the team had to make a tough decision and send down a Major League-caliber player,” Jeffers noted. “He has confidence, and we know he belongs up here. He’ll make it back up here.”
General Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects the current understanding and opinions regarding the events described. The information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Roster decisions in professional sports involve many variables, and outcomes can be unpredictable. Always verify details and consult with professionals before making any decisions based on this content.
