From NRIs to The Show, Julks, Salazar earn roster spots
HOUSTON — Corey Julks grew up going to Astros video games. Now, he’ll make the Opening Day roster for the primary time in his profession, donning the jersey for his hometown crew.
Neither Julks nor catcher César Salazar have been on the 40-man roster getting into Spring Training, however each carried out properly sufficient throughout Grapefruit League play to make Houston’s Opening Day roster.
Julks, the No. 30 Astros prospect per MLB Pipeline, went to Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas, which sits about half-hour southeast of Minute Maid Park. He performed school ball at University of Houston, the place he earned First Team All-Conference honors throughout his sophomore and junior years.
Upon studying the news that he had made the Opening Day roster, the 27-year-old felt nothing however “pure excitement.” It’s a particular, full-circle second for Julks, who shared that Minute Maid Park was the one Major League stadium he may bear in mind attending.
“Being a 5-year-old playing a game, and now, being able to say I made the Opening Day roster, dream come true,” stated Julks. “It’s awesome — getting the opportunity to play for my hometown team. Watching them when I was a kid and now actually playing for them, I’m at a loss for words.”
Julks hit 31 house runs and had 89 RBIs whereas batting .270 final season with Triple-A Sugar Land. This spring, he hit .275 (11-for-40) with two house runs and 12 RBIs.
“He deserved it,” stated supervisor Dusty Baker. “He’s come a long way. It hasn’t been easy. He hit 30 home runs last year. It’s hard to take that away from him. He’s worked hard on his defense. He’s worked hard on his throwing. You prefer a left-hander, but then, that’s only a side of a plate. If you can hit, you can hit on either side. We feel he can hit.”
As for why Julks made the crew over one other non-roster invitee to Spring Training, outfielder Justin Dirden (No. 9 Astros prospect), normal supervisor Dana Brown believed that Dirden wanted extra at-bats at Triple-A, the place he performed simply 32 video games final season. Dirden had an excellent spring, batting .324 (11-for-34) with two house runs.
“Julks had performed a lot in Triple-A,” stated Brown. “They both are very talented outfielders who we feel like will be a big part of this moving forward. We felt like Julks had more Minor League experience and put up big numbers in Triple-A.”
As for Salazar, he was stunned to make the Opening Day roster.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” stated Salazar. “I came here to Spring Training to do my job and try to show that I can help the team win. It is unreal. It’s an unreal feeling.”
Salazar described himself as an “emotional” however “good mess,” earlier than Houston’s remaining exhibition in opposition to Sugar Land on Tuesday when he acquired the news.
“They played it cool,” he stated, talking on the poker-faced deliveries of Baker and Brown. “Dana played it very cool, then he told me that I made the roster at the end. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was in a dream.”
Salazar hit .265 with 16 house runs and 60 RBIs mixed at Double-A Corpus Christi and Sugar Land in ‘22. During the spring, he was 6-for-21 with a house run.
According to Brown, Salazar was chosen over catcher Korey Lee (No. 7 Astros prospect) as a result of Lee wants constant taking part in time. Lee went 4-for-25 with 4 RBIs with the Astros final season.
“At the end of the day, Korey has to play every day,” stated Brown. “He’s a prospect. He’s a big-time, frontline guy with some power, so you can’t have guys like that sitting on the bench at the Major League level, so you have to give him playing time. Whereas Salazar is a backup catcher, and he fills that role better.”
In addition to Julks and Salazar, catcher Yainer Diaz (No. 2 Astros prospect) and pitchers Seth Martinez and Ronel Blanco made the Opening Day roster. The remaining selections have been very tough, Brown stated.
“That’s why we took it down to the wire,” he admitted. “I told all the guys when they came in, ‘Look, when you’re playing for a championship team, it’s not easy to make that team. I know some of you guys may be everyday players or extra players on some other rosters, but when the team is this good, it’s very difficult to make this team.’ I think all of them were positive and will go back to Triple-A and be ready to play when called on.”
