The Minnesota Twins experience a moment of concern as their youthful second baseman sustains an injury scare, yet fortunately, he seems to be in good condition.
The Minnesota Twins seem to have narrowly avoided a catastrophe after their recently appointed starting second baseman, Edouard Julien, was struck on the wrist by a pitch during spring training. According to reports from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Julien exited the visitors’ clubhouse at LECOM Park with his right wrist wrapped, yet initial assessments from the Twins indicate no significant concerns about his well-being.
The incident occurred in the first inning when Julien was hit on the wrist by a pitch delivered by former Twin Martin Pérez. Despite the discomfort, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and a team trainer assessed Julien’s condition at first base but opted to keep him in the game.
Baldelli noted that although Julien’s wrist immediately showed signs of bruising, he exhibited good strength and appeared to be coping well. The manager expressed confidence that Julien, who boasts a .421 batting average in camp, would not be sidelined for an extended period. Consequently, there were no immediate plans to subject him to further examination.
With the departure of Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners, Julien is slated to assume the role of the primary second baseman for the Twins. While he may have a platoon partner against left-handed pitchers, he dedicated the offseason to refining this aspect of his game.
The 24-year-old Montreal native posted a .263 batting average last season with 16 home runs in 338 at-bats. A full season of his contributions, alongside the anticipated healthy seasons from Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis, is expected to bolster the potency of the Twins’ offense in 2024.
Despite clinching the American League Central title last season, the Twins were eliminated in the ALDS by the Houston Astros.
