Edouard Julien had the type of rookie season with the Twins last season that suggested he could take a stranglehold on the second base job, hitting .263 with 16 home runs in 109 games.

The former 18th-round draft pick drew the attention of a lot of people, including opposing pitchers — which goes a long way in explaining why Julien is currently wearing a Saints’
uniform.

The 25-year-old Julien was hitting .207 for the Twins this season when he was sent down on June 4. Asked on Thursday about his offensive struggles, Julien said he was seeing more curve balls and sliders than ever before in his young professional career.

His hitting woes continued after joining the Saints, with pitchers going after him with the same approach.

“I think I’ve been getting 15 to 20% fastballs here,” he said. “They throw me a lot of spin, so it’s something I’ve got to get better at. And I am. My approach has to change a little bit, but I have to be aggressive on stuff in the zone.”

Julien was recalled by the Twins on July 20 with infielders Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda out due to injury, but returned to the Saints a week later when both players completed their rehab assignments.

With Brooks Lee also in the mix now at second base, Julien’s return to the majors becomes the much more difficult.

“I think if I want to be back, I’ve got to be better; that’s it,” Julien said. “So, for me, I don’t question anything else. I can’t point fingers or be pissed off. I’ve just got to be better.”

Being better includes continuing to make inroads on hitting the breaking ball. The more he sees in batting practice and in the batting cage, the more comfortable he’ll be in games.

“I tend to like the fastball better,” Julien said, “but when you don’t get it, you’ve got to able to put it in play. I’ve got to hit the ones that are up and put good swings on them.”

A double to lead off the Saints’ game with the Columbus Clippers on Thursday night at CHS Field extended Julien’s on-base streak to 33 games. The work he has put in is paying dividends.

“I’ve just got to keep doing it,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep having good at-bats and to show that I am able to adjust to anything.”

While his home run numbers are down — he has six with the Saints — Julien said it is not the result of sacrificing power to make contact.

“I never really swing for the long ball,” he said. “The strikeouts, I’m trying to cut down, but for me, it’s just to be aggressive on a pitch in the zone.”

Asked if he felt the ability he has shown to get on base could improve his chances of being called back up, Julien said, “Obviously, they don’t care about that because I’m still here, right?”

Briefly

Jair Camargo had an RBI single in the ninth inning on Tuesday as St. Paul beat Columbus 2-1 in a walk-off. Saints starter Zebby Matthews limited the Clippers to two hits, including a leadoff home run, over five innings. Twins infielder Kyle Farmer, on a rehab assignment, doubled in his first at bat and added a single and a walk.

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