Blue Jays hire Popkins as hitting coach
He succeeds Guillermo Martinez in the position. Martinez was let go in the wake of Toronto’s last-place finish in the American League East this past season.
The Toronto Blue Jays have appointed David Popkins as their new hitting coach.
He takes over from Guillermo Martinez, who was dismissed following the team’s last-place finish in the American League East this past season.
Popkins, a 34-year-old from San Diego, California, has spent the last three years as a hitting coach with the Minnesota Twins.
“David’s ability to game plan and connect with players in different ways is a really exciting addition to our coaching staff,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider stated in a release on Monday. “He’s a true expert in all types of hitting information and will help shape our offensive strategy for each game.
“We’re looking forward to the instant impact of his relentless work ethic.”
Prior to his role with the Twins, Popkins was a hitting coach in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor-league system for two years. Before transitioning to coaching, he played three seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals’ system.
The Blue Jays, who finished the season with a 74-88 record, ranked 19th in Major League Baseball with a team batting average of .241. They were also 20th in slugging percentage (.389) and 26th in home runs (156).
Martinez held the hitting coach position with Toronto for six seasons.
