Last season, the Twins made David Popkins the scapegoat for their offensive collapse. This year, they repeated the pattern by moving on from hitting coach Matt Borgschulte. Whether he’ll find the same success elsewhere that Popkins did remains to be seen, but it didn’t take long for Borgschulte to land a new job.

Borgschulte and Smarslok Land With Nationals

Many things went wrong for the Twins in 2025, and the lack of wins made it difficult to retain most of the coaching staff. Those who were dismissed needed to find new opportunities, and Matt Borgschulte now finds himself reunited with a familiar colleague.

Paul Toboni told us manager Blake Butera’s coaching staff for the upcoming season (thread):

Michael Johns — Bench Coach
Tyler Smarslok — Field Coordinator
Matt Borgschulte — Hitting Coach
Andrew Aydt — Assistant Hitting Coach
Bobby Wilson — Catching Coach/Run Game Coordinator

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) December 8, 2025

Blake Butera, the new manager of the Washington Nationals, has hired Borgschulte as his hitting coach and added Tyler Smarslok as his field coordinator.

Minnesota originally hired Borgschulte in 2018 as the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League affiliate. He continued to rise through the system, reaching Triple-A in 2020. After spending 2021 with the St. Paul Saints, the Baltimore Orioles made him their major-league hitting coach. Borgschulte rejoined the Twins organization last season but lasted only one year.

The Nationals are undoubtedly hoping Borgschulte can elevate their lineup the way Popkins boosted the Blue Jays’ offense this season. After being dismissed by Minnesota, Popkins helped Toronto to the second-best lineup in baseball. Washington, meanwhile, finished 26th.

Smarslok brings a varied resume as well. He served as the defensive coach for the St. Paul Saints from 2021-2023, then became their bench coach in 2024. Last season, he joined the Miami Marlins as their first base coach while also working with infielders and baserunners. He now takes on new responsibilities with the division-rival Nationals.

Twins’ Coaching Direction Growing Stale

The Twins once prided themselves on hiring progressive-minded coaches early in Falvey’s organizational overhaul. But recent moves suggest a shift toward safer, more conventional decisions, exemplified by the hiring of Shelton and signs that the baseball operations department has been outpaced by peers.

Minnesota will open Grapefruit League play at the end of February. What their roster looks like, and how competitively it’s constructed, remains an open question.

For decades, on-field batting practice has been a cherished highlight for fans and a cornerstone of pregame festivities. Last season, however, the Minnesota Twins largely stepped away from that tradition. With new hitting coach Matt Borgschulte now on board, the team is set to swing back into this fan-favorite ritual.

Related: How to Watch the Minnesota Twins Spring Training in 2025

Hitting preparation takes new shape for Minnesota Twins

Carlos Correa has never been shy about his meticulous preparation. His drive to dig into the metrics and his unique approach to the game may well set him apart as unmatched. When manager Rocco Baldelli announced that veterans would get more at-bats pregame, and that on-field batting practice was making a comeback, Correa welcomed the news with open arms.

“It’s a conversation that me and Rocco have had a couple of times. I’m glad we’re doing this. It’s more of a structured type of workout. I enjoy it. I like it.”

Carlos Correa to the Star Tribune

Borgschulte’s Success

Borgschulte is coming back to the Minnesota Twins after working with the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore’s 5th best (.324) wOBA (weighted on-base average) was significantly higher than Minnesota’s 11th place finish (.316). The new hitting coach told Bobby Nightengale this would be a change for some. It’s also something he really believes in.

“It’ll be a little bit different for some guys, but I think it’s going to be something that is going to help us. Seeing the ball off the bat is great for the whole team, honestly. You get reads on the bases. Outfielders get balls off the bat reads, too. Then you just get to see the ball flight. You get to have some control and have some focuses in each round on what you’re trying to do.”

Matt Borgschulte on taking on-field batting practice (Star Tribune)

The Minnesota Twins wrapped up the season with a mediocre 103 OPS+, placing them just above the league average. By contrast, the Baltimore Orioles soared to second in baseball with an impressive 118 OPS+, a figure topped only by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The main issue for the Twins was situational hitting, particularly struggling to deliver when the bases were loaded or when runners stood in scoring position.

MAKE IT 12!

Jose Miranda has hits in 12 straight at-bats, the longest streak in the Expansion Era (since 1961). pic.twitter.com/awzt9tRCe1

— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2024

Familiarity with new coach

There is a level of familiarity with Borgschulte for multiple current Twins big league players. Jose Miranda really took off when he batted .343/.397/.563 during his first Triple-A stint under Borgschulte’s tutelage.

Royce Lewis worked with Borgschulte previously too, and the talented third baseman must find his groove again after a season of struggle. The Twins young star slashed just .233/.295/.452, and really lost himself at the plate. A new approach to game action could certainly bring a fresh start in 2025.

Related: Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Already Dealing With Injury

Last season, the Minnesota Twins’ offense didn’t exactly languish in the depths of despair—except during their staggering August-into-September collapse, when they unraveled with no solutions to halt the freefall. This time, they’re aiming to head off trouble before it starts, and a Baltimore-esque offensive surge would be a more-than-welcome outcome.