The Toronto Blue Jays have kickstarted their efforts to boost their offense with the appointment of a new hitting coach. On Monday, the team announced the hiring of David Popkins, formerly with the Minnesota Twins, to join their coaching staff. Popkins will take over from Guillermo Martinez, who was dismissed following a disappointing offensive season that saw the team finish at the bottom of their division.
Manager John Schneider expressed enthusiasm for Popkins’ expertise, noting, “David’s ability to game plan and connect with players in different ways is a really exciting addition to our coaching staff. He’s a true expert in all types of hitting information and will help our offensive strategy for each game.”
The move comes after a dismal season for the Blue Jays, marked by historically low run production. In addition to releasing Martinez, the team reassigned Don Mattingly, stripping him of his offensive coordinator duties and returning him to a traditional bench coach role for the 2025 season.
Popkins, 34, spent three seasons as the Twins’ hitting coach but was let go after the team stumbled in September with a 9-18 record, missing the American League playoffs. During his tenure, Popkins had some notable successes, including leading the Twins to tie for the American League home run lead in 2023 with 233 homers.
For the upcoming season, Popkins will lead a Blue Jays hitting team that includes assistants Matt Hague and Hunter Mensa. Schneider highlighted the new coach’s relentless work ethic and anticipates an immediate positive effect on the team’s performance.
In 2024, the Jays’ offense managed just 671 runs—their lowest total since 1997. The question remains whether Popkins’ guidance can help revive the team’s underperforming hitters. Team president Mark Shapiro acknowledged the need for deeper introspection and strategic changes, stating, “It warrants some real reflection on the way we’re putting the team together and combining talent. It’s just as frustrating for me, knowing the amount of talent we have and thinking we should be scoring more.”
Schneider’s end-of-season comments underscored the need for a fresh approach, suggesting that Popkins’ arrival could provide the necessary spark. He remarked, “We still have good hitters that are here and need to perform better. I think that overall doing more damage on the fastball as a group is what’s needed.”
