Corey Julks's Biography
Corey Christopher Julks, an esteemed American baseball outfielder, was born on February 27, 1996. His impressive performance on the field for the Chicago White Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB) has earned him widespread recognition. Before he landed in Chicago, he played for the Houston Astros, marking his presence in the MLB.
The seeds for his successful career were sown at a young age when he was under the tutelage of Chuck McElroy, a former major relief pitcher. During this period, he played on the same team as McElroy’s son, Satchel, turning teammates into lifelong friends.
Hailing from Friendswood, Texas, Corey’s formative years were spent at Clear Brook High School. There he was honing his baseball skills and soon his talent paved the way for a college baseball career at the University of Houston, where he played for the Houston Cougars. His burgeoning career led him to play collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves, becoming a part of the renowned Cape Cod Baseball League in 2015.
Corey had an outstanding junior year in 2017, starting 57 games and showcasing his prowess with a batting average of .335 including nine home runs, 45 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Catching the attention of the big leagues, the Houston Astros selected him in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB draft, a landmark moment in his career.
Stepping into the professional arena, he made his debut with the Tri-City ValleyCats in the Low-A New York–Penn League, even though it proved to be a slow start with a .176 batting average over 32 games. The 2018 season saw Julks moving to play for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Single-A Midwest League. His commendable performance led to a promotion to play for the Buies Creek Astros in the High-A Carolina League. During this season, he excelled in 125 games, recording a .270 batting average with ten home runs and 62 RBIs.
Climbing up the ranks, 2019 was split between the Fayetteville Woodpeckers in the High-A Carolina League and the Corpus Christi Hooks in the Double-A Texas League. Despite not playing in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season, he returned in 2021 to Corpus Christi, recording impressive numbers, with a .287 batting average accompanied by 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 85 games.
The ascending trajectory of his career took him to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys for the 2022 season. He had a stellar breakthrough season compiling a .270 batting average with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs in 130 games. On March 28, 2023, Corey’s dream came true when he was selected for the Astros’ Opening Day roster.
His MLB debut took place against the Chicago White Sox on March 31, garnering his first major league hit. He continued to make waves by hitting his first major league home run, leading the Astros to a 7-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. His first major league grand slam came against the Toronto Blue Jays, which spurred an 11-4 victory. His significant contribution in his rookie campaign led to him achieving a .245 average with six home runs, 33 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 93 games.
However, the 2024 season began on a different note as Corey was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land. Eventually, he was designated for assignment by the Astros and was traded to the Chicago White Sox for minor-leaguer Luis Rodriguez on May 15, 2024. Soon after, he was assigned to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, as he continued to tirelessly work to leave his mark on Major League Baseball.
