Ex-Twins hitting coach David Popkins hired by Blue Jays in same role

Popkins was let go by the Twins after their late-season collapse.

Feb 24, 2023; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins hitting coach David Popkins (79) during photo day at Hammond Stadium. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Former Twins hitting coach David Popkins has been hired by the Toronto Blue Jays in the same role, they announced on Monday.

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

Popkins and fellow hitting coaches Rudy Hernandez and Derek Shomon were let go by the Twins earlier this month, following the conclusion of a stunning late-season collapse that saw them miss the postseason.

Minnesota then hired Matt Borgschulte as its hitting coach. He was previously with the Twins' organization as a hitting coach at various minor league levels from 2018-21 before spending the last three seasons as the Baltimore Orioles' co-hitting coach. In hiring Borgschulte, they're essentially getting a do-over on the decision to hire Popkins over him in 2022.

The Twins had some good offensive seasons under Popkins, highlighted by a 2023 season where they hit 233 home runs (tied for third-most in the league) and had a .753 OPS (seventh). They were tenth in runs scored and 11th in OPS this past season, but they went ice cold on offense during their six-week collapse to end the season. The Twins averaged just 3.6 runs per game over their final 39 contests, going 12-27 in that span to miss the playoffs despite having over a 95 percent chance to make it on September 2. As a result, something had to change.

The Blue Jays were 23rd in runs scored and 18th in OPS in 2024.

News: The #BlueJays have hired David Popkins as their hitting coach.

Full announcement here: pic.twitter.com/mBnUpAfv25

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) October 21, 2024