Julks (3-for-3) continuing to emerge as force in lineup

HOUSTON -- Astros outfielder Corey Julks fought off a 1-2 fastball up in the zone that jammed him and muscled it towards right field in the fifth inning. It had just enough juice -- 57.3 mph exit velocity -- to land on the outfield grass and go down in the box score as a base hit.

“When the going’s good, you get those hits,” Julks said with a smile. “That was awesome. Thumb still hurts, but I’ll take those.”

And things are going quite well for Julks, the rookie outfielder who’s made the most of his playing time with injuries to designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and left fielder Michael Brantley. Julks was 3-for-3 with an RBI double and his team-leading 15th stolen base in Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Mariners at Minute Maid Park.

He’s 11-for-16 (.688) in his past four games with no strikeouts, putting together four consecutive multi-hit games, including four hits Tuesday against the Rockies. In his past 15 games, he’s hitting .415 with seven RBIs, five steals and a 1.047 OPS.

“I’m getting comfortable each day, putting in the work before the games and just trusting myself, trusting the staff, what they tell me, and go execute in the game,” Julks said.

With his numbers rising daily, Julks is slashing .289/.333/.418 with six homers -- including homers off 2023 All-Stars Kevin Gausman and Shohei Ohtani -- and 29 RBIs in 249 plate appearances.

“Just keep it coming,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “It's a matter of belief, you know? When you're feeling hot, you think you’re going to get a hit every time up. Just stay where he is and the rest of us will catch up.”

Julks and fellow rookie Yainer Diaz have come on strong at the plate recently. Diaz blasted a pair of homers in Wednesday’s win and added two more hits Thursday while starting at designated hitter. He’s fifth among AL rookies with an .802 OPS.

The Mariners, who have watched a Houston team led by stars like Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Alvarez dominate the division in recent years, have a new crop of Astros to worry about, led by the rookies.

"They're really talented young players,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “It's a different team right now, and they've had some injuries. You know, injuries hit every team. We've had to deal with some too, but yeah, those young guys are talented. They got power, and they swing the bat pretty well."

Diaz and Julks are getting most of the reps at designated hitter, with Julks also splitting time in left field with Chas McCormick, who plays center with Jake Meyers. The flexibility gives Baker the opportunity to go with a hot hand while he waits for Alvarez to return from an oblique injury later this month. Brantley recently had a second setback while trying to come back from shoulder surgery.

“More playing time, more reps, and just trusting what I do before the game and get a good plan of what I want to do against the pitchers and just look for my pitch, make my swing and see what happens,” Julks said when asked about what’s behind his hot streak.

Julks, 27, was an eighth-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Houston and spent all of last season at Triple-A Sugar Land, hitting 31 homers. The power potential was enough for the Astros to add him to the Opening Day roster.

As the first half of the season comes to a close, he is pleased with his body of work as a rookie and eager to conquer the challenges ahead.

“I think I’m doing solid,” he said. “There’s still more work to be done, for sure, but each day I'm getting better and that’s what matters.”