Now in Arizona to compete with Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Quebecer Édouard Julien, prospect for the Minnesota Twins, said he was happy to have this new experience.
“It was the right choice for me, I would certainly have liked to have stayed with the Twins and played other preparatory games. At the same time, I have the chance to play for Canada and it will be a great experience,” Julien commented on Tuesday during an impromptu video conference of the heads of the Canonniers’ sport studies program in Quebec.
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Considering he learned a lot in a couple of weeks during the Twins’ training camp, Julien revealed he had developed a very good relationship with shortstop Carlos Correa.
“It’s kind of become my mentor, Julien mentioned. Correa grows very strongly with youngsters. After every game he asks me to come up to him and say one thing I need to improve.
And what did he mainly learn at the Twins’ training camp?
“I would say I have a more specific routine in training now,” he said. I used to do a little bit of everything. But at this level you become a bit like a medical specialist and need to train with a routine that allows you to play to your strengths.
The beauty of baseball
While awaiting his return to the Twins organization at the end of the World Classic, Julien will look to use the tournament to shine. The Quebec native has already drawn many eyes by hitting two homers in the same Grapefruit League game last week.
“It was a great game,” he said of the 10-7 win over the Atlanta Braves on February 28. That’s the beauty of baseball because in my last game I got knocked out three times.
The Quebecer scored a total of four goals, including his two long balls, in 16 official racquet games during his training camp. He was also the victim of eight strikes. It’s part of learning.
“My goal for camp was to show the Twins that I can help the team win. Now with Canada this tournament is a great platform to play against good players.
It will be interesting for both the Twins and local fans to follow Julien’s performances at the World Classic, where he will notably be joined by three other Quebecers, namely Abraham Toro, Otto Lopez and veteran pitcher Phillippe Aumont.