By George Nunnelley

Auburn Athletics

TORONTO – Edouard Julien has been named the 2018 Canadian Baseball Network (CBN) College Player of the Year, the publication announced last week.

Julien, a native of Quebec City, Quebec, received first-place votes on 43 of 52 ballots (82.7 percent) cast by a panel of scouts, coaches, executives and writers. He also claimed the designated hitter position on CBN’s All-Canadian First Team.

Julien turned in one of the best freshman seasons in program history as he led the team with 17 home runs and 69 RBI, which broke former Auburn great and National Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas’ freshman record previously recorded in 1987. His 69 RBI led the Southeastern Conference and were tops among freshmen nationally, while his 17 home runs were tied for the second most among freshmen nationally and sixth in the league.

The slugger was instrumental in Auburn’s postseason run, which ended in the second super regional appearance in program history, as he was named to both the SEC All-Tournament Team and Raleigh Regional All-Tournament Team. Julien delivered the walk-off single in the Tigers’ SEC Tournament opener versus Kentucky before hitting a grand slam against Ole Miss the following day. He then went 7-for-13 with two home runs and six RBI in the Raleigh Regional.

Julien was not only the lone freshman named ABCA All-South Region, but was also one of four Tigers named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and tabbed Freshman All-American. Auburn’s four freshmen to ear All-American honors were the most in the country.

Julien and the Tigers begin the 2019 campaign with a three-game series against Georgia Southern from Feb. 15-17.