It is always inspiring to see Quebecers achieve success. Inside Quebec, obviously, but also and moreover when they promote La Belle Province beyond the border, even internationally.
This is exactly what baseball player Édouard Julien is doing. He and his team are having good times in the playoffs and Julien is part of these so-called good times.
Certainly, the Minnesota Twins player did not have everything cooked in his mouth. He did not steal his accomplishments. How did it get there? He did not blame society or the government. He didn’t make excuses because of the language barrier. He simply worked harder than others to ensure his success. And There you go!
Don’t be afraid to put in the effort
The 539th pick in the 2019 MLB amateur auction once stood out with his batting skills. This is what allowed him to be drafted in the 18th round by the Twins.
Where the problem was in his case was in his defense. The Twins saw great potential in him, but didn’t really know where to play him on the diamond. After many attempts in the minor ranks, it was at the second cushion level that the 24-year-old athlete stood out.
This is how his coaches and other players helped him, advised him and took time with him to guide him in his learning and development process. Everyone around him wanted him to succeed. On the other hand, the one who wanted to succeed the most was the protagonist of this text. The key is there. This is how, by climbing the ranks, the door to the big league opened for the native of Quebec. It wasn’t the finish line, it was the starting line.
Learning English
As stated in the previous paragraph, Édouard Julien grew up in the national capital. He spoke French, a bit of Spanish and not much English.
It was important for him to blend in with his teammates. Speak the same language as them. English is the language of baseball in North America, after all!
When he arrived at Auburn University in 2018, Édouard, for the record, did not speak the language of Shakespeare. However, he learned. Yes, it is possible to learn a language as an adult! His English became good quickly, to the point of being named captain of his team.
So he learned to speak in English and hone his defensive game at the same time. As good old Denis Coderre says, you can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time.
On this day
In his rookie year, number 47 established himself as a regular among his team. In the regular season, he participated in 109 games for his team and played 75 times at second cushion. In the series, his manager Baldelli did not hesitate to use him at second base.
For Game 3 of the series against the Astros, he played as designated hitter. We recognize the importance of his strike. As for his English, this is no longer an issue. His journalistic interviews bear witness to this.
The odds are better that he will win a Silver Staff before a Golden Glove. That said, nothing is impossible. If Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was able to win a Golden Glove, Édouard Julien can certainly do it too.
