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Rockies second basemen have posted a 64 wRC+ and -1.7 FanGraphs WAR the last two years. Last September, the team was playing Ryan Ritter (61/10 K/BB), Tyler Freeman (negative fielding value at every infield spot he’s played), and Orlando Arcia (literally Orlando Arcia) at second base. If Julien can find second base, he’s an upgrade. Don’t think he can do even that? Rockies first basemen had a 70 wRC+ and -4.8 fWAR the last two years. Last September, they were leaning on 28-year-old waiver bait Blaine Crim to play first. ZiPS has Julien as the team’s third-best hitter, Steamer pegs him fourth.
I don’t know if Julien can hit well enough to carry his glove, but he’s been sent to a place where he’ll have the best chance he’ll ever have to save his career.
