The Toronto Blue Jays have hired David Popkins as their new hitting coach. He will replace Guillermo Martinez, who the team fired on September 30th. Popkins is a former hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins, spending three seasons with the team before they parted ways on October 1st. Before his time with the Twins, Popkins served as a hitting coach in the minors with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played in the minors with the St. Louis Cardinals organization for three seasons.
OFFICIAL: We’re excited to announce the hiring of David Popkins as our Hitting Coach. Welcome to the #BlueJays! pic.twitter.com/dkK6l374uA
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 21, 2024
Blue Jays Hire Former Twins Hitting Coach David Popkins for Same Position
MIN’s process results under David Popkins from 2022-24 (MLB rank):
– 20.5% LD% (T-3rd)
– 39.2% FB% (6th)
– 27.4% Pulled FB% (T-7th)
– 40.1% HH% (7th)
– 8.9% Barrel% (T-4th)
– 8.6% BB% (T-9th)Certainly encouraging. #BlueJays
— Thomas Hall (@Hall_Thomas_) October 21, 2024
The 34-year-old Popkins retired from his playing career in 2017, which was spent entirely in the minors. Popkins has come in to help a struggling Blue Jays team that finished 23rd in MLB in runs this season. Aside from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto’s offense was a major disappointment in 2024. During Popkins’ time with the Twins, he was successful in helping the team’s offense rank in promising numbers. The Twins led MLB in home runs in 2023, followed by ranking in the top five in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, extra-base hits, and hard-hit rate in 2024. Hopefully, Popkins can help carry that success over to the Blue Jays.
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa commented on Popkins as his hitting coach with the Twins. “This man literally saved my career and my life. I have never been in the room with someone so sophisticated yet so easy to relate to. He’s probably the best hitting coach I’ve ever worked with and I owe my life to him.” This would indicate that Popkins has a strong ability to connect with hitters.
As a player for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League, Popkins hit 35 home runs and was an All-Star in 2016.
Photo Credit: © USA TODAY NETWORK
