White Sox announce four roster moves
CHCAGO - Prior to today’s game vs. Washington, the Chicago White Sox announced the following four roster moves:
- Acquired (1): OF Corey Julks from the Houston Astros in exchange for RHP Luis Rodríguez;
- Optioned to Class AAA Charlotte (1): Julks;
- Recalled from Charlotte (1): OF Dominic Fletcher;
- Designated for Assignment (1): OF Rafael Ortega.
Julks, 28, is hitting .266/.358/.444 (33-124) with seven doubles, five home runs, 19 walks, 26 runs scored and six stolen bases in 31 games with Class AAA Sugarland this season. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Julks was designated for assignment by the Astros on Friday.
Julks spent most of the 2023 season with the Astros and hit .245 (73-298) with 14 doubles, six home runs, 33 RBI and 15 steals in 93 games. Four of his six home runs came against former All-Stars, including right-handers Shohei Ohtani and Corbin Burnes. Julks was selected to Houston’s 2023 Opening Day roster and made his major-league debut that night vs. the White Sox.
Julks was named a 2022 MiLB.com organizational All-Star after ranking third in the Pacific Coast League with 31 home runs. He is a career .264/.352/.437 (537-2,037) hitter with 121 doubles, 14 triples, 68 home runs, 261 RBI and 260 walks in 537 games over seven seasons in the Astros system. He originally was selected by the club in the eighth round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston.
Fletcher, 26, is hitting .203 (12-59) with four doubles and six RBI in 20 games with the White Sox this season. He is 10-42 (.238) with a homer and four RBI in 11 games with Charlotte.
Ortega, 33, is 1-14 (.071) in 14 games with Chicago this season.
Rodríguez, 20, is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA (3 ER/3.2 IP) and four strikeouts in two games with the Arizona Complex League White Sox in 2024.
Following the moves, the White Sox 40-man roster remains at 40.