The Tigers are adding some depth to their outfield mix, signing 29-year-old Corey Julks to a minor league deal, according to the team’s transaction log. While it’s not a headline-grabbing move, it’s the kind of under-the-radar signing that could quietly pay dividends down the line. Julks is expected to be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee, giving Detroit a closer look at a player with some intriguing tools and a solid Triple-A track record.
Julks has logged time in the majors across each of the last three seasons, though his 2025 stint with the White Sox was brief - just 13 plate appearances. In total, he’s accumulated 565 plate appearances over 165 big league games, which is essentially one full season’s worth of action. His slash line in that span - .234/.288/.337 - doesn’t jump off the page, but there’s more to the story.
He’s shown flashes of versatility and athleticism, with nine home runs, 23 doubles, and 20 stolen bases (in 25 attempts) across his MLB time. His walk rate sits at 7%, with a 24.4% strikeout rate - numbers that suggest he’s still looking to find the right balance at the plate against big league pitching.
But if you zoom out and look at his Triple-A numbers, Julks has consistently produced. Over parts of four seasons at that level, he’s posted a strong .279/.365/.486 line.
His 2022 campaign with the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate stands out in particular - 31 home runs and 22 stolen bases, showing off both power and speed. And according to wRC+, he’s been at least 18% better than league average offensively in each of his Triple-A seasons.
That kind of sustained production in the upper minors suggests there’s still some untapped potential here.
One of the more interesting wrinkles in Julks’ profile is his performance against left-handed pitching. While his major league splits don’t show a clear edge - he’s been below average against both lefties and righties in limited MLB action - his recent minor league numbers tell a different story.
In 2025, he hit .301/.377/.484 against southpaws, and the year before that, he posted a .297/.381/.424 line. That kind of production from the right side could give him a shot at carving out a platoon or bench role if he can carry it into the spring.
Defensively, Julks brings some flexibility. He’s played all three outfield spots, though he’s mostly been used in the corners.
Metrics from 2023-24 credited him with above-average sprint speed and arm strength, but his range in the outfield was below average. He’s also spent time on the infield dirt - 415 innings at third base and a brief cameo at second - though those reps have mostly come in the minors.
At this stage, he profiles primarily as a corner outfielder who can offer emergency coverage elsewhere if needed.
For the Tigers, this is a low-risk move that adds a right-handed bat with speed, some pop, and positional flexibility. Julks will have to earn his way onto the roster, but he’s the kind of player who can make things interesting in camp - and potentially give Detroit another option as they continue to shape their roster heading into the season.