David Popkins hired to be Blue Jays’ hitting coach

The Toronto Blue Jays on Monday announced the hiring of David Popkins as the club’s hitting coach under manager John Schneider.

“David’s ability to game plan and connect with players in different ways is a really exciting addition to our coaching staff,” said Schneider. “He’s a true expert in all types of hitting information and will help our offensive strategy for each game. We’re looking forward to the instant impact of his relentless work ethic.”

Popkins, 34, joins the Blue Jays for his fourth season on a Major League coaching staff and will oversee Toronto’s offence. The San Diego native spent the last three seasons as a Hitting Coach for the Minnesota Twins, where in 2023, they finished tied for the American League lead in home runs (233), marking their second-most in franchise history.

During his tenure, the Twins ranked top five in the American League in extra base hits, home runs, OBP, SLG, OPS, average exit velocity, and hard-hit rate. He also worked within the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system as a hitting coach for two years. Prior to his coaching career, Popkins played three seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system.