Corey Julks

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Corey Julks

|image = Julks.jpg

|caption = Julks in 2022 with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys

|team = Chicago White Sox

|number =

|position = Outfielder / Designated hitter

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|27}}

|birth_place = Friendswood, Texas, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = March 31

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = Houston Astros

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .234

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 9

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 47

|teams =

Houston Astros ({{mlby|2023}})
Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2024}})

}}

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

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.{{cite news |last=McTaggart |first=Brian |url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/chuck-mcelroy-s-impact-on-astros-corey-julks |title=Former big leaguer's profound impact on Julks |work=MLB.com |date=April 26, 2023 |access-date=April 28, 2023}}

Julks attended Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas, and played college baseball at the University of Houston for the Houston Cougars.{{cite web | url=https://www.galvnews.com/sports/college/free/article_ee9934b1-c7f8-5bdc-a2f4-2c956542ce55.html | title=Julks, Wong take shared select baseball experience to UH | date=February 11, 2016 }} In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=818314&seasonid=29031 |title=#5 Corey Julks - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=April 9, 2022}} As a junior in 2017, he started 57 games and batted .335 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/friendswood/sports/article/Baseball-Astros-may-have-gem-in-Clear-Brook-s-11220055.php | title=Baseball: Astros may have gem in Clear Brook's Julks | date=June 14, 2017 }} He was selected by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft and signed.{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/sports/mlb/astros/astros-sign-10-players-from-2017-mlb-draft-class/285-450894194 | title=Astros sign 10 players from 2017 MLB Draft class |work=KHOU| date=June 21, 2017 }}

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Corey-Julks-to-begin-pro-career-with-Astros-11236338.php | title=Corey Julks to begin pro career with Astros' Tri-City affiliate | date=June 21, 2017 }} 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.{{cite web | url=https://qconline.com/sports/river_bandits/julks-hopes-to-work-his-way-back-to-houston/article_a52033f9-2872-5016-99fe-128712c6bd9b.html | title=Julks hopes to work his way back to Houston | date=May 23, 2018 }} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/julks-promoted-to-double-a-corpus-christi/n-5542638 | title=Julks Promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi | date=August 22, 2019 }} He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season.{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/30/minor-league-baseball-season-canceled-2020-coronavirus | title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled | date=June 30, 2020 }}

Julks returned to Corpus Christi (now members of the Double-A Central) for the 2021 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.caller.com/story/sports/local/baseball/corpus-christi-hooks/2021/08/21/hooks-outfielder-corey-julks-leading-way-after-return-lineup/8220068002/ | title=Wake up call: Hooks Outfielder Corey Julks leading the way after return }} Over 85 games, he slashed .287/.349/.491 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://theathletic.com/3150354/2022/02/28/with-improved-power-corey-julks-could-be-the-astros-latest-late-blooming-outfielder-prospect/ | title=With improved power, Corey Julks could be the Astros' next late-blooming outfielder prospect | website=The Athletic }} He was assigned to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League for the 2022 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/sugar-land/news/space-cowboys-preliminary-roster-announced | title=Space Cowboys Preliminary Roster Announced }} Over 130 games, he compiled a .270/.351/.503 slash line with 31 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/corey-julks-667452?season=2022&team=5434 | title=Corey Julks Stats, Fantasy & News }}

==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.{{Cite news |title=Astros' Corey Julks: Named to Opening Day roster |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-corey-julks-named-to-opening-day-roster/amp/|access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=cbssports.com|language=en}} The Astros selected his contract on March 30. {{cite news |last=Adams |first=Steve |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/03/astros-designate-j-j-matijevic-bligh-madris-for-assignment.html |title=Astros designate J.J. Matijevic, Bligh Madris for assignment |work=MLB Trade Rumors |date=March 30, 2023 |access-date=March 30, 2023}} 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.{{cite news |last=Young |first=Matt |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/corey-julks-houston-astros-big-league-debut-hit-17872623.php |title=Astros rookie Corey Julks delivers hit in first big league at-bat in front of hometown crowd |work=Houston Chronicle |date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=March 31, 2023}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401471202 |title=Julks hits first homer, Urquidy shines as Astros top Pirates |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=April 12, 2023}} Julks' ninth-inning single on April 23 versus the Atlanta Braves drove in the go-ahead run as the Astros eventually won, 5–2.{{cite news |last=Young |first=Matt |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/astros-corey-julks-big-hit-braves-bench-stay-ready-17913822.php |title=Astros insider: What Corey Julks did after being told to 'just stay ready' led to his big moment |work=Houston Chronicle |date=April 23, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}

File:Corey Julks.jpg

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.{{cite news |last=McTaggart|first=Brian|title=Astros rout Blue Jays thanks to stars and supporting cast |website=MLB.com |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-have-19-hits-and-4-home-runs-in-rout-of-blue-jays |date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 6, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=Ian |url=https://apnews.com/article/astros-blue-jays-corey-julks-3e1399a0ad8fd25b1a955620fd7e17a5 |title=Julks hits 1st slam, surging Astros homer four times in 11-4 win over Blue Jays |work=Associated Press |date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401472297 |title=Rookies shine for Astros as Kessinger homers, Julks has 4 hits in 4–1 win over Rockies |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=July 4, 2023 |access-date=July 17, 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Astros' Corey Julks: Sent down to minors|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-corey-julks-sent-down-to-minors/amp/|date=March 30, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On May 10, 2024, Julks was designated for assignment by the Astros.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |date=2024-05-10 |title=Astros Claim Alex Speas, Designate Corey Julks |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/astros-claim-alex-speas-designate-corey-julks.html |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

=Chicago White Sox=

On May 15, 2024, Julks was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor leaguer Luis Rodriguez.{{cite news |last1=Kawahara |first1=Matt |title=Houston Astros trade Corey Julks to White Sox for minor-league pitcher Luis Rodriguez |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/astros-luis-rodriguez-corey-julks-white-sox-trade-19459440.php |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 15, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Chicago White Sox acquire outfielder Corey Julks in trade with Houston Astros |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2024/05/15/corey-julks-trade-white-sox-astros/73702077007/ |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=USA Today |date=May 15, 2024}} He was subsequently optioned to the Triple–A Charlotte Knights.{{cite news |title=White Sox trade for Astros' Corey Julks, recall Dominic Fletcher |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40152127/white-sox-acquire-corey-julks-astros |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=ESPN.com |date=May 15, 2024}} In 66 games for Chicago, Julks slashed .214/.275/.306 with three home runs, 14 RBI, and five stolen bases. On December 21, the White Sox designated Julks for assignment.{{Cite news |date=December 21, 2024 |title=White Sox acquire reliever Cam Booser from Red Sox |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43101091/white-sox-acquire-reliever-cam-booser-red-sox |access-date=December 23, 2024 |work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte on January 8, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=2025-01-08 |title=White Sox Outright Corey Julks |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/white-sox-outright-corey-julks-clears-waivers.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}