Edouard

Julien

With Willi Castro and Royce Lewis set to return to the lineup on Tuesday, the Twins needed to clear space on the active roster. Julien was starting regularly against right-handed pitching, but hitting just .198 with a 28 percent strikeout rate thanks to his overly passive approach at the plate. Unless he shifts his approach, it’s hard to see him becoming an MLB regular.

Castro has been sidelined with an oblique injury since April 16th and was finally placed on the IL late last week. He has been swinging the bat right-handed and plans to swing left-handed on Tuesday. If his body responds well to that, the Twins could bring him back for this weekend’s series against Boston, which could cut into the playing time for Brooks Lee or Edouard Julien.

Julien worked Kyle Hendricks for a walk to start the home half of the first inning, then came around to score the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carlos Correa. He then drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning and rode home on Trevor Larnach’s three-run blast. Julien also led off the sixth with a walk, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Byron Buxton’s RBI triple. On the season, the 25-year-old infielder is slashing an underwhelming .222/.296/.333 with one homer and seven RBI.

The Twins are probably going to get Royce Lewis back next week and Luke Keaschall certainly seems poised to stick around after that happens, so Lee and Edouard Julien are back jockeying for position. At this point, Lee would seem to have the clear edge on Julien; he’s the superior defender and he’s posted a .721 OPS in 10 games since coming off the IL, compared to .611 in 22 games for Julien. Julien, though, would still seem to be the better bet against right-handed pitching going forward. The Twins figure to keep both on the roster initially after Lewis returns; it’s just a matter of who is going to get more playing time.

Castro has missed five straight games, so the move is retroactive to April 21. There’s no guarantee that Castro comes off the IL when he’s first eligible, but this will move up the timeline a few days. Mickey Gasper was recalled in a corresponding move, but it will likely be Edouard Julien and Brooks Lee getting regular starts while Castro is out.

It’ll be Brooks Lee at the hot corner, Edouard Julien at the keystone and rookie Luke Keashall at DH on Tuesday night at Target Field with Castro still out nursing a right oblique issue. There’s been zero indication that the versatile speedster will require a trip to the injured list, especially since the Twins have the extra infield depth to keep him on the bench for now.

Julien opened the sixth inning with an opposite-field 361-foot (98.1 mph EV) solo shot off of Casey Mize that increased the Twins’ advantage to 3-1. That would be his only hit in four at-bats on the afternoon. The 25-year-old is off to a solid start overall at the plate, slashing .282/.333/.436 with one homer and four RBI through his first 39 at-bats.

Julien, who didn’t start any of the Twins’ first four games, went 3-for-14 with a double and a walk in the last five contests. Jose Miranda is getting the nod over Julien today, with Willi Castro sliding from third base to second.

Miranda is sitting even though Ty France is getting his first day off of the year, opening up first base. Mickey Gasper was chosen to start there, though. Edouard Julien is making his fifth straight start, so it seems like he’s overtaken Miranda in the Twins’ eyes, even as it very obviously was tilted the other way a week ago. Miranda is off to a 4-for-24 start at the plate, while Julien is 2-for-14.

Miranda is just 3-for-18 (.167) to start the season with six strikeouts and no walks. He will get the day off with Willi Castro sliding over to third base and Edouard Julien starting at second base.