Toronto Blue Jays Appoint David Popkins as New Hitting Coach

Summary:

• The Toronto Blue Jays named David Popkins as their new hitting coach. 
• Popkins will take over the reins from Guillermo Martinez, whose six-season contract has expired. 
• Assistant hitting coaches Matt Hague and Hunter Mense could make a comeback while offensive coordinator Don Mattingly will take the bench coach position.

The Toronto Blue Jays have named David Popkins as their new hitting coach, the baseball team announced on Monday. 

Popkins will take charge of an offense that ranked 23rd in runs scored this past season, with the club looking for a turnaround after a disappointing 2024.

Popkins, 34, will join the Blue Jays after three seasons as the hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins. 

His tenure with the Twins ended when he, along with assistants Derek Shomon and Rudy Hernandez, were let go following the conclusion of the 2024 season. 

Popkins caught the attention of the Blue Jays due to his ability to relate to players and his expertise in generating power in key leverage situations.

“A Really Exciting Addition” to Jays’ Coaching Staff 

David Popkins will replace Guillermo Martinez, whose contract was not renewed after six seasons as the Blue Jays’ hitting coach. 

Additionally, assistant hitting coaches Matt Hague and Hunter Mense are expected to stay with the club, even though their positions are still under discussion. 

Don Mattingly, who served as the offensive coordinator last season, will return to a more traditional bench coach role.

Commenting on their decision regarding Popkins, manager John Schneider praised his “ability to game plan and connect with players in different ways”, which he called “a really exciting addition” to their coaching staff. 

Schneider added the San Diego-born coach is “a true expert in all types of hitting information”, expecting him to considerably help their offensive strategy.

Helping Guys Hit, a “More and More Complex” Problem 

Popkins’ hire comes at a critical time for the Blue Jays, who struggled offensively in 2024 after a similarly underwhelming 2023 season. 

General manager Ross Atkins identified improving offensive performance as a priority, noting the complexity of run-scoring in today’s game. 

The problem of helping guys hit and the problem of run-scoring is more and more complex

The Blue Jays ranked 26th in the majors with just 156 home runs and 20th in slugging percentage at .389. 

Despite ranking 13th in on-base percentage at .313 and recording the sixth-fewest strikeouts with 1,233, Atkins emphasized the need for more power, stating that they “just didn’t drive the ball”.

Atkins further explained their offensive approach shifted throughout the season, encouraging hitters to take their best swings and seize opportunities in certain counts. 

However, he acknowledged that adding power without compromising contact rates, particularly in the playoffs, remains crucial. 

It’s clear that contact is exceptionally important in the playoffs

Popkins now has the task of shaping the Blue Jays’ offensive strategy and improving their ability to produce runs. 

His previous success with the Twins, where the team led the American League in home runs with 233 in 2023, offers hope that the Blue Jays’ offense can rebound in 2025.

The new hitting coach Popkins spent three seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals system as a player before inking a contract as an undrafted free agent in 2012, getting up to double-A. 

He played another three of independent ball and in 2020, joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as their rookie-ball hitting coach, where he got bumped to advanced-A Great Lakes in 2021 prior to joining the Twins.

Can Popkins turn the Blue Jays into serious hitters and contenders for next season? Get all the latest baseball odds with our selected sportsbooks.