HOUSTON -- You can call them the Bash Brothers, at least for one night anyway.
Corey Julks and Jake Meyers -- a pair of reserve outfielders who were selected in the 2017 MLB Draft, came through the Minor Leagues together and were in the starting lineup on Monday against the Blue Jays -- each went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a homer to lead the Astros to a 9-2 win in the series opener 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 and Meyers combined for five RBIs in the Astros’ seven-run first inning, which was the most runs they scored in the opening frame since bashing the Mariners for nine on Aug. 14, 2020.
The other two first-inning RBIs on Monday came off the bat of veteran first baseman José Abreu, who got the scoring going with a two-run double off the center-field wall at an exit velocity of 109.3 mph -- his hardest-hit ball of the season.
“They came out aggressive,” Toronto starter Kevin Gausman said. “They were taking pitches, but it was more me throwing some uncompetitive splitters early in the game. I definitely fed into that. Then I got into bad counts and had to throw strikes. They kind of eliminated an off-speed pitch because I couldn’t throw it for strikes. I kind of put myself in a hole there right out of the gate.”
Seven of the Astros’ first nine hitters scored in the first against Gausman. Julks, starting in left field, ripped a two-run double with the bases loaded that was 109.6 mph off the bat. That made it 4-0.
“The first two [batters] swung at the first pitch, so they definitely set the tone there,” Julks said. “Everybody else was trying to build off that, get them early and keep it going.”
Meyers, starting in center, followed Julks with a three-run, opposite-field home run that had a 105.6 mph exit velocity. Julks added a 424-foot solo homer to left field in the third inning that clocked in at 107.2 mph off the bat, showing the kind of pop that has made him one of Baker’s favorites.
“I love me some Julks,” the Astros skipper declared earlier in the year.
Julks -- ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Astros’ No. 28 prospect -- is welcoming each opportunity.
“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 said. “I try to show up to the field every day ready to go.”
Julks has started 10 games this year, while Meyers has started eight. With veteran left fielder Michael Brantley on the injured list to start the year, starting center fielder Chas McCormick dealing with vision issues and slugger Yordan Alvarez at designated hitter, there was an opportunity for both to play on Monday.
“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.”
The Astros selected Julks in the eighth round of the 2017 Draft out of the University of Houston, and Meyers was taken in the 13th round out of the University of Nebraska that same year. Meyers made his debut in '21, winning the starting center field job late that season, only to have his campaign end when he crashed into the wall while attempting to make a catch in Chicago during the American League Division Series.
Meyers required shoulder surgery, and it’s been tough sledding since then, as he’s tried to find his footing and consistent playing time. But he’s thrilled to see Julks get his career off to such a strong start, as the rookie has picked up at least one hit in nine of the 10 games he’s started this year.
“Usual Corey,” Meyers said. “I got to play with him all the way up through the Minors every year, and I’ve had a lot of fun playing with him. He’s one of my good buddies. Just his attention to detail -- he shows up every day and works hard. He just wants to be great and that spills off to everybody. Everybody wants to feed off of that. I think that’s what’s special about him.”