Corey Julks

Corey Julks
Julks with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys in 2022
Free agent
Outfielder / Designated hitter
Born: (1996-02-27) February 27, 1996
Friendswood, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 31, 2023, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.234
Home runs9
Runs batted in48
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Corey Christopher Julks (born February 27, 1996) is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox.

Early life and amateur career

As a youth, Corey Julks was coached by former major league relief pitcher, Chuck McElroy. Also playing for McElroy on his teams was his son, Satchel, whom Julks befriended.[1]

Julks attended Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas, and played college baseball at the University of Houston for the Houston Cougars.[2] In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] As a junior in 2017, he started 57 games and batted .335 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.[4] He was selected by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft and signed.[5]

Professional career

Houston Astros

Minor leagues

Julks made his debut with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Low-A New York–Penn League where he batted .176 over 32 games.[6] He began the 2018 season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League before being promoted to the Buies Creek Astros of the High-A Carolina League.[7] Over 125 games, he hit .270 with ten home runs and 62 RBIs. He split the 2019 season between the Fayetteville Woodpeckers of the High-A Carolina League and the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double-A Texas League, batting .256 with four home runs and 41 RBIs over 107 games.[8] He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season.[9]

Julks returned to Corpus Christi (now members of the Double-A Central) for the 2021 season.[10] Over 85 games, he slashed .287/.349/.491 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.[11] He was assigned to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League for the 2022 season.[12] Over 130 games, he compiled a .270/.351/.503 slash line with 31 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases.[13]

Major leagues

On March 28, 2023, it was announced that Julks had made the Astros’ Opening Day roster, his first selection to a Major League Baseball (MLB) roster.[14] The Astros selected his contract on March 30. [15] He made his MLB debut on March 31 versus the Chicago White Sox, starting as the designated hitter (DH). In his first at-bat, Julks singled off Lance Lynn for his first major league hit.[16] On April 12, he hit his first major league home run versus the Pittsburgh Pirates while facing Rich Hill, fueling a 7–0 Astros win.[17] Julks' ninth-inning single on April 23 versus the Atlanta Braves drove in the go-ahead run as the Astros eventually won, 5–2.[18]

On June 5, Julks hit his first major league grand slam versus the Toronto Blue Jays while facing Alek Manoah, igniting an 11–4 win.[19][20] On July 4, Julks collected his first career four-hit game to lead the Astros to a 4–1 win over the Colorado Rockies at Minute Maid Park.[21] In 93 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .245/.297/.352 with six home runs, 33 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.

Julks was optioned to Triple–A Sugar Land to begin the 2024 season.[22] On May 10, 2024, Julks was designated for assignment by the Astros.[23]

Chicago White Sox

On May 15, 2024, Julks was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor leaguer Luis Rodriguez.[24][25] He was subsequently optioned to the Triple–A Charlotte Knights.[26] In 66 games for Chicago, Julks slashed .214/.275/.306 with three home runs, 14 RBI, and five stolen bases.

On December 21, 2024, the White Sox designated Julks for assignment.[27] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte on January 8, 2025.[28] In 87 appearances for Charlotte, Julks slashed .295/.373/.470 with 10 home runs, 46 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. On August 1, the White Sox selected Julks' contract, adding him back to their active roster.[29] In four appearances for Chicago, he went 3-for-8 (.375) with no home runs or RBI. Julks was designated for assignment by the White Sox on August 12.[30] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte on August 14.[31] On September 23, the White Sox added Julks back to their active roster.[32] He made two additional appearances for Chicago, going hitless in four at-bats. On October 13, Julks was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Charlotte.[33] He elected free agency on October 15.[34]

References

  1. ^ McTaggart, Brian (April 26, 2023). "Former big leaguer's profound impact on Julks". MLB.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "Julks, Wong take shared select baseball experience to UH". February 11, 2016.
  3. ^ "#5 Corey Julks - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Baseball: Astros may have gem in Clear Brook's Julks". June 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Astros sign 10 players from 2017 MLB Draft class". KHOU. June 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "Corey Julks to begin pro career with Astros' Tri-City affiliate". June 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "Julks hopes to work his way back to Houston". May 23, 2018.
  8. ^ "Julks Promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi". August 22, 2019.
  9. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled". June 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "Wake up call: Hooks Outfielder Corey Julks leading the way after return".
  11. ^ "With improved power, Corey Julks could be the Astros' next late-blooming outfielder prospect". The Athletic.
  12. ^ "Space Cowboys Preliminary Roster Announced".
  13. ^ "Corey Julks Stats, Fantasy & News".
  14. ^ "Astros' Corey Julks: Named to Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Adams, Steve (March 30, 2023). "Astros designate J.J. Matijevic, Bligh Madris for assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Young, Matt (March 31, 2023). "Astros rookie Corey Julks delivers hit in first big league at-bat in front of hometown crowd". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  17. ^ "Julks hits first homer, Urquidy shines as Astros top Pirates". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Young, Matt (April 23, 2023). "Astros insider: What Corey Julks did after being told to 'just stay ready' led to his big moment". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  19. ^ McTaggart, Brian (June 5, 2023). "Astros rout Blue Jays thanks to stars and supporting cast". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Harrison, Ian (June 5, 2023). "Julks hits 1st slam, surging Astros homer four times in 11-4 win over Blue Jays". Associated Press. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  21. ^ "Rookies shine for Astros as Kessinger homers, Julks has 4 hits in 4–1 win over Rockies". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  22. ^ "Astros' Corey Julks: Sent down to minors". cbssports.com. March 30, 2024.
  23. ^ McDonald, Darragh (May 10, 2024). "Astros Claim Alex Speas, Designate Corey Julks". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Kawahara, Matt (May 15, 2024). "Houston Astros trade Corey Julks to White Sox for minor-league pitcher Luis Rodriguez". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  25. ^ "Chicago White Sox acquire outfielder Corey Julks in trade with Houston Astros". USA Today. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  26. ^ "White Sox trade for Astros' Corey Julks, recall Dominic Fletcher". ESPN.com. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  27. ^ "White Sox acquire reliever Cam Booser from Red Sox". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  28. ^ Adams, Steve (January 8, 2025). "White Sox Outright Corey Julks". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  29. ^ "White Sox Select Corey Julks". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  30. ^ "White Sox Designate Corey Julks For Assignment, Select Yoendrys Gómez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  31. ^ McDonald, Darragh (August 14, 2025). "White Sox Outright Corey Julks". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  32. ^ Adams, Steve (September 23, 2025). "White Sox Select Corey Julks". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  33. ^ Wright, Charlie (October 13, 2025). "White Sox Outright Fletcher, Julks, Peguero, White". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  34. ^ McDonald, Darragh (October 15, 2025). "Nine Players Elect Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
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