Rockies Cut Julien Loose: Former Top Prospect Outrighted
Rockies Send Edouard Julien to Minor Leagues After He Clears Waivers
What Happened? The Short Version
The Colorado Rockies made a roster move this week. They sent infielder Edouard Julien (pronounced Ed-war Joo-lee-en) down to their Triple-A team in Albuquerque. Here’s the simple version:
- The Rockies needed to make room on their 40-man roster for outfielder Zac Veen
- They put Julien on the "designated for assignment" list (DFA for short)
- No other team claimed him off waivers
- So he was "outrighted" to Triple-A Albuquerque
Important Point: This isn’t a release! Julien is still in the Rockies organization. He’s just no longer on the 40-man roster.
Who Is Edouard Julien?
Julien is a 27-year-old infielder who plays second base and first base. He’s a left-handed hitter from Quebec, Canada.
His Baseball Journey So Far
| Year | Team | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Leagues | Twins system | Known for drawing lots of walks, but also striking out a lot. Defense was considered below average. |
| 2023 | Minnesota Twins | Rookie breakout! Played 109 games, hit 16 home runs, walked a ton. Looked like a future star. |
| 2024–2025 | Twins → Rockies | Struggled badly. Traded to Colorado. Coors Field didn’t fix things. |
| August 2025 | Rockies | Designated for assignment, cleared waivers, sent to Triple-A. |
The Good: His 2023 Rookie Season (ELI5 Stats Explained)
In 2023, Julien played 109 games for the Twins. Here’s what the numbers mean in plain English:
The Counting Stats
- 408 plate appearances = stepped to the plate 408 times
- 16 home runs = hit it over the fence 16 times
- 31.4% strikeout rate = struck out in roughly 1 out of every 3 at-bats (high!)
- 15.7% walk rate = walked in roughly 1 out of every 6 at-bats (excellent!)
The Rate Stats (The "Slash Line")
.263 / .381 / .459
| Number | What It Means | Is It Good? |
|---|---|---|
| .263 | Batting Average — got a hit 26.3% of the time he put ball in play | Average |
| .381 | On-Base Percentage — reached base 38.1% of the time (hits + walks + hit by pitch) | Very Good! |
| .459 | Slugging Percentage — measures power (doubles, triples, HRs count more) | Good! |
The Advanced Stat: 134 wRC+
- wRC+ = "Weighted Runs Created Plus"
- 100 = league average
- 134 = 34% better than average hitter
- Translation: Julien was a really good offensive player in 2023, even with all those strikeouts!
Key Insight: His high .371 BABIP (batting average on balls in play) means he got a little lucky on balls hit in play. But even with "regression" (luck evening out), he’d still be a solid hitter.
The Bad: The Last Two Seasons (2024–2025)
Since 2024 started, things have gone way downhill:
| Stat | 2023 (Good) | 2024–2025 (Bad) |
|---|---|---|
| Plate Appearances | 408 | 785 |
| Home Runs | 16 | 14 (in nearly 2x the chances!) |
| Batting Average | .263 | .208 |
| On-Base % | .381 | .307 |
| Slugging % | .459 | .313 |
What Went Wrong?
- Still drawing walks (good!) — but not doing damage when he swings
- Power disappeared — only 14 HR in 785 plate appearances
- Contact issues got worse — not hitting the ball hard enough
- Coors Field didn’t help — usually boosts hitters, but not Julien
Why This Move Happened: The Roster Rules (Simplified)
Baseball has confusing roster rules. Here’s the ELI5 version:
1. The 40-Man Roster
- Each team can have 40 players "protected"
- Only these 40 can be called up to the big leagues
- Teams must make room when adding new players
2. Designated for Assignment (DFA)
- "We need your roster spot, but we’re not releasing you yet"
- Team has 7 days to: trade you, release you, or put you on waivers
3. Waivers
- Other teams get a chance to claim the player
- Priority goes to worst teams first
- If no one claims = player "clears waivers"
4. Outright Assignment
- Player is removed from 40-man roster
- Sent to minor leagues (Triple-A here)
- Still paid and still in organization
5. Options & Service Time (Why This Matters for Julien)
Important Point: Julien is in a unique spot because of his service time.
| Concept | What It Means | Julien’s Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Minor League Options | Times a team can send a player down without waivers | Used his last one in 2024 |
| Service Time | Days on active MLB roster (determines free agency) | Less than 3 years |
| Outright Rights | Can refuse minor league assignment & become free agent | Needs 3+ years service time — he doesn’t have it! |
Bottom line: Julien cannot say "no" to this demotion. He cannot become a free agent. The Rockies keep him cheap as depth.
What’s Next for Julien?
He’s Now With the Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple-A)
Triple-A = one step below the majors. Many players shuttle back and forth.
The Rockies’ Plan:
- Keep him as non-roster depth — insurance if someone gets hurt
- See if he can fix his swing in a lower-pressure environment
- Maybe he gets called up later if he rakes in Albuquerque
- Or he stays down all year — either way, Rockies control his rights
Why Albuquerque?
- Hitter-friendly park (like Coors Field) — could help confidence
- Regular playing time — harder to get in MLB right now
- Coaching staff can work on mechanics daily
Summary
| What Happened | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Edouard Julien, 27, INF (2B/1B) |
| Move | Cleared waivers → outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque |
| Trigger | Rockies recalled Zac Veen, needed 40-man spot |
| 2023 | Star rookie: 134 wRC+, .381 OBP, 16 HR |
| 2024–25 | Collapsed: .208/.307/.313, 14 HR in 785 PA |
| Contract Status | <3 years service time — no free agency rights |
| Rockies Control | Keep him as cheap depth, see if he rebounds |
The Big Picture: Julien went from "building block" to "roster casualty" in two years. The Rockies are betting on a low-risk, high-reward bounce-back. If he fixes things in Triple-A, he could help them later. If not, they lose almost nothing.
FAQ
What does "cleared waivers" mean exactly?
A: It means all 29 other teams had a chance to claim Julien (and his contract) but every single one said "no thanks." This usually means teams don’t think he’s worth a 40-man roster spot right now.
Can Julien refuse to go to Triple-A?
A: No. Players need 3+ years of MLB service time to reject an outright assignment. Julien has less than 3 years, so he must report to Albuquerque.
Is this the end of his MLB career?
A: Not at all! Many players have bounced back from Triple-A. He’s only 27. If he rediscovers his 2023 form (walks + power), he’ll get another shot — with the Rockies or via trade.
Why did the Rockies trade for him if he was struggling?
A: Low cost, high upside. They gave up little for a player who was a 134 wRC+ hitter one year ago. Coors Field was supposed to help his power. It didn’t work, but the risk was minimal.
What’s the difference between Triple-A and the majors?
A: Triple-A is the highest minor league level. Talent is close to MLB, but: less consistent pitching, younger players developing, veterans trying to get back up. Many players move back and forth multiple times a season.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel, Imagn Images