The Toronto Blue Jays shave apparently made an incredible hire with David Popkins
Photo credit: Sports illustrated
The Toronto Blue Jays announced yesterday that they hired David Popkins as their new hitting to replace Guillermo Martinez heading into the 2025 season.
OFFICIAL: We're excited to announce the hiring of David Popkins as our Hitting Coach. Welcome to the #BlueJays!
The Blue Jays decide to part ways with multiple coaches and staff members are the end of the 2024 season after the disappointing outcome they had mixed with the majority of players having an off year.
According to reports the Blue Jays did a great job by hiring David Popkins as their new hitting coach
When all of these different coaches were fired at the end of the season, Guillermo Martinez, the Blue Jays hitting coach, was also let go after the team had a terrible year at the plate.
The replacement was named yesterday as Popkins is set to take his place this season and according to multiple reports, he is the right man for the job.
Popkins played for a little bit in the St Louis Cardinals organization after signing as an undrafted free agent following his time at UC Davis. Popkins decided to give coaching a try after this starting off with the Dodgers but for the last 3 seasons he has been with the Twins.
The Blue Jays have some high expectations foor Popkins as they are hoping he will be able to reignite the Blue Jays offense are two years of very mediocre numbers.
Popkins' new job will be to reignite a Blue Jays offence that has underperformed over the last two seasons, finishing tied for 14th in runs scored per game in 2023 (4.6) and 23rd (4.14) this year. He, of course, replaces Guillermo Martinez - whose contract wasn't renewed after this past season - and will team up with assistant hitting coaches Matt Hague and Hunter Mense. -Hall
He is also known for keeping things light around the locker room which helps players a lot in times where they find themselves in a slump or losing streak.
«Baseball is a very mental game,» he said last April while speaking to The Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. «There are technical aspects. There are things you have to work on, of course. But the mental side, especially in-season, is so important.
Fans are excited to see how this coaching changes helps the team on the field.
Source: Blue Jays Nation
Getting to know new Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins
Getting to know new Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins
