Welcome to the 2026 installment of Ranking the Rockies, where we review every player who appeared for the Colorado Rockies during the 2026 season. This ranking is structured by Baseball Reference’s rWAR (WAR) metric, starting from the player with the lowest rWAR and progressing to the highest. This approach serves as an objective means of assessing each player’s contribution without internal debate.
At No. 52 is Edouard Julien, who posted a -1.0 rWAR in 2026. The Rockies’ front office aimed to boost team talent and improve plate discipline, moving away from the free-swinging tendencies that had plagued past lineups. In January, the Rockies executed two key trades, acquiring TJ Rumfield from the Yankees and, from the Twins, pitcher Pierson Ohl and infielder Edouard Julien. While Ohl was sidelined all season due to Tommy John surgery, Julien played a substantial role with the big-league club.
Julien’s tenure in Minnesota had been underwhelming. After a promising rookie season in 2023, his offensive output sharply declined over the following two years, making him expendable, especially given the Twins’ system depth and his limited minor league options. The Rockies hoped that a new environment and Julien’s strong contact and on-base skills could revive his performance. Versatility at first and second base added to his value. He impressed in spring training with a .300/.417/.533 slash in 30 at-bats, a marked improvement over his struggles in the World Baseball Classic with Team Canada.
April continued positively, with Julien hitting .304/.396/.443, contributing two home runs and 12 RBIs in 27 games, including effective leadoff hitting. However, his momentum collapsed in May as he managed a dismal .083 average with a 12-game hitless streak, leading to a drop down the batting order as Jake McCarthy surged. June saw a rebound with strong plate discipline, but July brought another offensive slump. After limited and ineffective play in August, Julien was designated for assignment and sent to Triple-A Albuquerque, finishing the season with a .208/.322/.292 batting line over 88 games in the majors.
Despite his struggles at the plate, Julien was regularly in the lineup until his demotion, sharing second base duties with Willi Castro. His value largely came from his on-base ability, reflected in a 14.1% walk rate (his best since 2023) and a career-low 25.7% strikeout rate. He drew 39 walks, ranking fifth on the team. His contact rate of 78% was the highest of his career, including strong contact rates on pitches both inside and outside the strike zone, showcasing the disciplined approach the Rockies sought. Unfortunately, much of this contact resulted in foul balls or weakly hit grounders, with a career-high groundball rate of 50.3%, limiting his offensive impact. He also struggled against right-handed pitchers, batting just .214/.324/.307. While once showing power potential with 16 homers in his rookie year, Julien only managed three home runs and limited extra-base hits in 2026. Overall, his offensive numbers hinted at promise but lacked consistent productivity beyond drawing walks and sneaking in singles.
Defensively, Julien’s shortcomings were more apparent. Initially seen as a potential first baseman option before TJ Rumfield secured that role, Julien primarily played second base. However, his defense was a liability, as reflected in negative metrics: -7 Defensive Runs Saved and -4 Outs Above Average over 467.1 innings, along with a -3 Fielding Run Value. His limited range and arm strength led to reduced playing time, with Castro taking over more at second base while Julien moved into designated hitter and pinch-hitting roles.
Looking ahead, the Rockies’ acquisition of Julien was based on sound reasoning—his patient, strike-zone control approach aligns with the team’s goals. He demonstrated flashes of this value during the season, but inconsistent hitting and defensive struggles made him expendable as the year concluded. Rumfield clearly outperformed him in the discipline department, making Julien’s roster spot difficult to justify. It’s likely Julien will enter free agency, though he could remain organizational depth in the minors. Ultimately, while he didn’t solidify a long-term role in Colorado, Julien illustrated the type of disciplined at-bat that the Rockies would like to see more regularly.
Fan Take:
Edouard Julien’s story this season highlights the ongoing challenge many players face in translating plate discipline into consistent offensive production at the major league level. For baseball fans, it serves as a reminder that potential and approach are important but not always enough to guarantee success, underscoring how even subtle performance differences can shape a player’s career and a team’s roster decisions.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
