Corey Christopher Julks is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who most recently played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox organization. Born on February 27, 1996, Julks has built a reputation as a versatile contact hitter with developing power throughout his minor league career. He made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 2023 after being drafted by the organization in 2017. Julks has demonstrated the ability to play both corner outfield positions and serve as a designated hitter, providing positional flexibility to the teams he has joined.
Corey Julks Bio
Julks began his professional journey after being selected by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. His path through the minor leagues showcased consistent offensive production, particularly during his time at the Triple-A level with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. The outfielder earned his first Major League roster spot when the Astros named him to their Opening Day roster on March 28, 2023. Throughout his MLB career, Julks has played for the Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and most recently signed with the Detroit Tigers organization in January 2026.
Early Life and Background
Corey Julks grew up in Friendswood, Texas, where he attended Clear Brook High School. During his youth baseball career, Julks received instruction from former Major League relief pitcher Chuck McElroy. This early coaching connection proved significant, as Julks befriended McElroy’s son Satchel during their time playing together on youth teams. The mentorship from an experienced MLB pitcher provided Julks with foundational knowledge of professional baseball expectations and work habits that would serve him well in his development.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following high school, Julks continued his baseball career at the University of Houston, where he played for the Houston Cougars collegiate baseball team. His junior season in 2017 proved to be a breakthrough campaign, as he started 57 games and batted .335 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. The strong performance caught the attention of MLB scouts, leading to his selection by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB draft.
Corey Julks Career
Minor League Development (2017–2022)
Julks began his professional career with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Low-A New York-Penn League in 2017, where he appeared in 32 games and batted .176. The following season, he advanced through the Astros system, splitting time between the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League and the Buies Creek Astros of the High-A Carolina League. Over 125 combined games in 2018, he hit .270 with ten home runs and 62 RBIs, demonstrating his ability to make consistent contact at higher levels.
In 2019, Julks continued his progression by playing for both the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and the Corpus Christi Hooks, the latter being the Astros’ Double-A affiliate in the Texas League. He batted .256 with four home runs and 41 RBIs over 107 games. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, denying Julks an opportunity to advance his development. He returned to Corpus Christi in 2021 and posted a .287/.349/.491 slash line with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases across 85 games, his most complete statistical season to that point.
Houston Astros Breakthrough (2023)
The 2022 season with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys proved to be Julks’ launching pad to the majors. Over 130 games, he compiled a .270/.351/.503 slash line with 31 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. The exceptional power display earned him his first Major League roster spot when the Astros selected his contract on March 30, 2023, naming him to their Opening Day roster. He made his MLB debut on March 31 against the Chicago White Sox, starting as the designated hitter and recording his first major league hit, a single off Lance Lynn.
Julks’ rookie campaign featured several memorable moments. He hit his first major league home run on April 12 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, helping fuel a 7-0 Astros victory. A ninth-inning single against the Atlanta Braves on April 23 drove in the go-ahead run in a 5-2 win. His most dramatic moment came on June 5, when he hit his first career grand slam against the Toronto Blue Jays while facing Alek Manoah, igniting an 11-4 victory. He collected his first career four-hit game on July 4 against the Colorado Rockies at Minute Maid Park. In 93 games during his rookie season, Julks batted .245/.297/.352 with six home runs, 33 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.
Chicago White Sox Era (2024–2025)
Julks began the 2024 season with the Astros but was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land. On May 10, 2024, Houston designated him for assignment, and he was subsequently traded to the Chicago White Sox on May 15 in exchange for minor leaguer Luis Rodriguez. After being optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, Julks appeared in 66 games for the White Sox, slashing .214/.275/.306 with three home runs, 14 RBIs, and five stolen bases.
He was designated for assignment by Chicago in December 2024 but cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte in January 2025. With Charlotte, Julks showed resurgence at the plate, posting a .295/.373/.470 slash line with ten home runs, 46 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases across 87 appearances. The White Sox selected his contract on August 1, 2025, adding him back to their active roster. He went 3-for-8 in four appearances before being designated for assignment again on August 12. After clearing waivers and being sent outright to Charlotte, Julks was added back to the White Sox roster on September 23. He ended the season with a combined .234 batting average, nine home runs, and 48 RBIs across his MLB career. On October 13, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Charlotte, electing free agency on October 15, 2025.
Detroit Tigers (2026)
On January 22, 2026, Julks signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization. The move represented a fresh opportunity for the outfielder to compete for a Major League roster spot while continuing his professional baseball career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Julks has established himself as a contact-oriented hitter with developing power. His ability to hit for average and steal bases provides value at the plate and on the bases. He displays versatility in the outfield corners and serves effectively as a designated hitter, giving his team flexibility in lineup construction. His career stolen base totals demonstrate above-average speed that he has successfully translated into games.
Corey Julks Career Wins
Throughout his professional career spanning from 2017 through 2025, Julks has accumulated significant statistics across multiple minor league levels and brief MLB appearances. His most productive professional season came in 2022 with Triple-A Sugar Land, where he posted career highs in home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases.
Major League Baseball Highlights
In his brief MLB career, Julks has appeared in 163 combined games between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox. His career MLB statistics include a .234 batting average, nine home runs, and 48 RBIs. He recorded his first grand slam in June 2023 against the Blue Jays and logged 20 career stolen bases at the major league level. His 2023 rookie season with the Astros featured six home runs, 33 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases while playing corner outfield and designated hitter roles.
Minor League Achievements
Julks’ minor league career highlighted his ability to produce offensively at every level. His 2022 Triple-A season with Sugar Land stands out as his most impressive campaign, as he compiled 31 home runs and 89 RBIs while maintaining a .270 batting average and adding 22 stolen bases. He also posted strong numbers in 2021 with Corpus Christi, hitting .287 with 14 home runs and 15 stolen bases across 85 games. His consistent minor league production demonstrated the skills that eventually earned him a Major League roster spot.
Corey Julks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
While Julks’ family details remain private, his early baseball development benefited from mentorship by former MLB relief pitcher Chuck McElroy. The connection provided Julks with professional-level guidance during his formative years in Friendswood, Texas.
Personal Life
Julks maintains a low profile regarding his personal life. As of 2025, no public information indicates he is married or has children. He continues to pursue his professional baseball career with dedication to his craft.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for Julks with the Chicago White Sox organization. After beginning the year at Triple-A Charlotte following an outright assignment, he demonstrated strong offensive production with a .295 batting average, ten home runs, and 46 RBIs in 87 minor league games. His performance earned him two call-ups to the Major League roster during the season. Julks appeared in a combined four MLB games across his two stints with Chicago, going 3-for-8 at the plate. The White Sox ultimately removed him from their 40-man roster at season’s end, and he elected free agency. Despite the roster changes, Julks’ sustained minor league success positions him well for continued opportunities in professional baseball.