Goodbye Jorge Polanco, goodbye Sonny Gray… hello losing. The next season, Rocco, Correa, Buxton and the crew started hot, until injuries lit the match on a catastrophic second half collapse down the stretch that wiped them out of the playoff picture and triggered yet another round of in-house cuts, this time at both the front office and coaching levels.

President of baseball operations Derek Falvey spared manager Rocco Baldelli, but hitting coach David Popkins was let go, as was Falvey’s right-hand man since arriving in Minnesota, general manager Thad Levine.

David Popkins a key to Toronto Blue Jays success

Popkins quickly found work as the Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach. Under the Twins’ former assistant, Toronto finished with the BEST batting average in the majors (.265) this season. They also rank 2nd in offensive fWAR, 3rd in OPS, 5th in OPS+, 3rd most RBI (771). The Jays have also struck out less than any other team in the league.

Without a doubt, Popkins helped the Blue Jays completely transform their offensive production. And in a rarely seen type of moment for an assistant coach, fans in Toronto had some extra love for Popkins when his name was announced during pregame introductions prior for game one of the ALCS on Sunday.

Jays fans gave hitting coach David Popkins a strong ovation during pregame introductions. They know how much he’s impacted this team.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 12, 2025

Minnesota initially hired David Popkins in 2021, after they fired James Rowson, who moved on and became the hitting coach for the New York Yankees, one of the best lineups in baseball since he got the job. Two seasons later, Popkings was fired just like his predecessor… and success uncoincidentally followed him too.

Not only did he escape the Pohlads, but he was paid a go-away package that got him out of an organization that seemingly makes everyone worse at their job. And guess what, Popkins’ dismissal — and the success he’s brought to his new organization — has already proven to be more of the same.

Blue Jays players credit Popkins for their success

Where Falvey has decided to point the finger at Popkins for the failures of his roster construction, and player performance, the Toronto Blue Jays credit their new coach. Back in the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016, they see his impact.

As MLB.com’s Mike Petriello laid out, the difference for Toronto hitters this season is intent. They have made contact before, but Popkins urged them to change the quality of that contact.

"I think in the past, it took months for them to kind of fix my mechanics, for him it takes him two days…"

Daulton Varsho speaks on the impact @BlueJays hitting coach David Popkins has had on his approach throughout the season.@jonmorosi | #ALCS pic.twitter.com/6eBo00HQdJ

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 12, 2025

This blurb from @mike_petriello's piece on the Blue Jays perfectly encapsulates just how impactful David Popkins has been to the Blue Jays. Bat speed matters. It always has and it always will.

Don't ever let anyone gaslight you into believing a coaching staff has no impact again pic.twitter.com/qSByW9fpTU

— Damon (@Damon98_) October 10, 2025

Popkins said his plan was to, “let them swing and swing with intent, work through the middle of the field and whatever happens after that, happens.” That’s the goal, and that’s what you can control.

There is a difference between making contact for the sake of doing so. Willians Astudillo or Mickey Gasper are poor examples of it, while Luis Arraez is the best-case scenario. Toronto hitters just do not give up on an at-bat, under Popkins.

They grind out at-bats, but don’t forfeit all of their power. All I know is that the Minnesota Twins sure could have used an elite hitting coach like David Popkins. Too bad we can’t have nice things, huh?

After Derek Falvey fired Popkins and GM Thad Levine, the Pohlads gave their front office leader a promotion. He paid them back by constructing another loser in 2025.

That lead to the deadline teardown and firing of manager Rocco Baldelli. Would anybody be shocked if Rocco lands elsewhere and immediately finds success? No… no it would not.

Toronto Blue Jays hire former Twins hitting coach David Popkins

Popkins spent just 19 days unemployed, after the Minnesota Twins sent him packing on October 1. Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli both return for the Twins in 2025, but it was decided that a new direction was needed from the coaching staff. On Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays swooped in and hired Popkins as a minor league hitting coach.

Blue Jays announce they've hired David Popkins as their hitting coach.

Popkins, 34, spent the last three seasons as a hitting coach with the Twins. Before that he was a minor-league hitting coach with the Dodgers & played three seasons in Cardinals' minor-league system.

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) October 21, 2024

Prior to his time in Minnesota, Popkins was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, working in their minor league system. His hitting expertise is largely rooted in mechanics and a technical approach to putting bat on ball. Whether his fault or not, the Twins really struggled to find consistency at the dish this season.

Minnesota Twins replaced Popkins with Matt Borgschulte

Popkins head to the AL East, after the Twins just hired theirs out of that division. Matt Borgschulte, Popkins replacement, comes from the Baltimore Orioles. He isn’t new, though. Borgschulte was previously on Toby Gardenhire’s St. Paul staff, before he was hired away by the Orioles. Now, he’s back. His old head manager in St. Paul might end up there with him, too.

Related: Minnesota Twins Hire Familiar Hitting Coach From Out of AL East

Blue Jays manager John Schneider spoke glowingly of the new hitting coach for his staff. Popkins went undrafted out of college but played three season in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system prior to moving into coaching.

rollercoaster ride for the offense:

team woba
spring training .300 (27th)
1st 2 weeks .266 (28th)
apr .311 (12th)
may-july .328 (5th)
aug-sept .297 (23rd)

everyone will remember the collapse at the end but this lineup sputtered hard out the gate following spring training https://t.co/9kIkJF0xiD

— parker hageman (@HagemanParker) October 2, 2024

“David’s ability to game plan and connect with players in different ways is a really exciting addition to our coaching staff. 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.”

John Schneider on David Popkins (MLB.com)

Popkins replaces the Blue Jays hitting coach Guillermo Martinez, who was let go following the 2024 regular season. Minnesota finished 10th among MLB teams in offensive fWAR this season. The Toronto Blue Jays were just one spot behind them in 11th. The assistant positions for hitting instruction remain unfilled by the Twins.

One of the biggest reasons for the Twins’ demise was having an offense that went ice-cold as summer turned to fall. From July to August, the Twins had a respectable batting average of .266. In 27 games in September, when they went 9-18, they hit just .218.

You thought Manuel Margot was bad? Even if he went 0-for-35 in pinch-hit opportunities, at least Margot hit .238 for the season. On Tuesday, during the first chance the Twins got, they did something to address their hitting woes for next season.

Related: Did Royce Lewis Call Out Carlos Correa After Minnesota Twins Season Finale?

Minnesota Twins point blame at hitting coach David Popkins

As expected, the Minnesota Twins are not moving on from Rocco Baldelli. But they will be making a coaching change.

According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, the Twins have informed hitting coach David Popkins that his services won’t be needed in Minnesota next season. However, Popkins is not being fired. His contract is simply expiring, and the Twins are choosing not to discuss a future with him.

It’s not yet known whether assistant hitting coaches Derek Shomon or Rudy Hernandez will return to the Twins in 2025. Some players, including Carlos Correa had been vocal about their support for Popkins after a strong season, yet it appears even he spoke of him in the past-tense on Sunday.

Popkins, 34, was one of the youngest hitting coaches in MLB. After his playing career wrapped up with the Dodgers in 2019, Popkins joined their minor-league organization as a hitting coach, where he worked for three seasons.

In 2021, the Twins hired him as their MLB hitting coach and the rest is history, with Popkins looking for work again.

Related: Carlos Correa’s ‘Shocking’ Therapy Regimen Revealed