On Monday, the team announced the hiring of David Popkins, who was recently released by the Minnesota Twins, as the latest member of their coaching staff. He will take over for Guillermo Martinez, who was let go following a disappointing season marked by offensive struggles, finishing in last place.
“David brings a unique ability to formulate game plans and connect with players, making him an exciting addition to our coaching team,” said Jays manager John Schneider in a statement. “He is an expert in various aspects of hitting and will enhance our offensive strategy for each game.”
Following one of the franchise’s poorest seasons in terms of run production, the Jays recognized the need for change. Along with Martinez’s departure, they also reassigned the offensive coordinator duties from Don Mattingly, who will return to a conventional bench coach role for the 2025 season.
The 34-year-old Popkins served as the hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins for the past three seasons. However, after a disappointing September where the team finished with a 9-18 record and missed out on the American League playoffs, the Twins chose not to renew his contract.
During his time in Minnesota, Popkins had notable successes, particularly in 2023 when the team tied for the American League lead in home runs with 233. Popkins will lead a Jays hitting coach staff in 2024 that includes assistants Matt Hague and Hunter Mensa. “We’re eager to see the immediate impact of his strong work ethic,” said Schneider regarding this key offseason addition. In a disappointing 2024 season, the Jays managed only 671 runs — their lowest total since 1997. The team hopes Popkins’ fresh perspective will help boost the performance of struggling players. At a season-ending press conference, team president Mark Shapiro acknowledged the need for reflection on how the team is constructed and the combination of talent, stating, “I’m watching the same games as (general manager Ross Atkins), and it’s just as frustrating for me, given the talent we have, to see we should be scoring more.” “We must learn from our past offensive disappointments,” Shapiro continued. “We need to be more strategic in how we produce runs.”
Schneider also expressed his confidence in Popkins, who was well-liked by Minnesota players, believing he will provide a fresh perspective and approach for the Jays. In the last week of the season, Schneider shared his thoughts on the team’s hitting issues. “We still have capable hitters who need to perform better. I think it’s essential that we collectively handle fastballs more effectively.”
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