Astros Bench Playing Pivotal Role In Season Successes

The Houston Astros selected Corey Julks in the eighth round of the 2017 draft out of the University of Houston.

Jake Meyers was also selected in ‘17 in the 13th round out of the University of Nebraska.

Who could have envisioned that when the Astros needed a win six years later, it would be Julks and Meyers leading the way?

Over the course of a marathon 162-game regular season, different players step up.

On Monday, it was this dynamic duo.

Each player went 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBI as the Astros defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 9-2 at Minute Maid Park.

“They've been working hard at it and trying to get to their strokes, find their strokes or keep their strokes,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “That was big. I know we haven't had a first inning like that in a long time. We always talk about jumping on them early and we finally did it.”

Julks is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club’s No. 28-ranked prospect.

He’s taking advantage of this opportunity in a huge way.

“Every day, the more (at-bats) you get, you try to build off that, and everybody around here has helped me a lot to get comfortable,” Julks told reporters. “I try to show up to the field every day ready to go.”

Julks has started 10 games this year and Meyers has started eight. With some injury issues, this duo is receiving more playing time.

And it’s paying dividends.

“That's their job to play when called upon and I try not to let them sit too much,” Baker said. “You notice they probably haven’t sat more than two or three consecutive days. We’ve only played 17 games, so they’ve played quite a bit to this point.”

Good thing, too. The Astros need them.