Someone who deserves more credit for the Blue Jays’ success this season is new hitting coach David Popkins. The Blue Jays hired Popkins to be their hitting coach on October 21, 2024. He has helped players transform their approach, swing, and offense by allowing them to return to their previous dominant form at the plate.
Hiring Popkins was one of the best moves the Blue Jays made. “My philosophy is built off of creativity,” Popkins said. “We’re trying to become the most creative lineup at scoring runs in baseball.” Since joining the Blue Jays, his first task was earning the trust of the hitters. This was a solid strength of his when he was part of the Minnesota Twins organization. He worked with star shortstop Carlos Correa, and that’s when he was able to make some magic happen. Popkin’s job has been to reignite the Blue Jays’ offense that has been flat over the last two seasons.
Popkins Transforms Blue Jays Offense
Popkins Approach
There’s no hitter on the roster more emblematic of this new identity than Ernie Clement. For the longest time, almost nobody talked about him, yet he’s quietly become one of the most valuable assets on the team. Sporting a .298 average, low strikeout rate (9.8%), and a WAR (2.5) that has him keeping up with big-name players. Clement has come a long way since being on the Cleveland Guardians. While he isn’t a launch-angle guy, he’s a grinder. Overall, Popkin’s approach of empowering players to be themselves without obsessing over the exit velocity leaderboard has given Clement the space to come alive offensively.
Since getting consistent reps, Addison Barger has shown the power-pop many predicted (.447 slugging in the past 3 weeks). But it’s his pitch selection that’s been most impressive. His ability to spoil tough pitches and get into a hitter’s count is the type of subtle skill that isn’t often discussed but is a winning component across 162 games.
According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Popkins was also helping Daulton Varsho rediscover his swing back in May. “Every time a player has success, there are typically clues that are left behind — success tends to do that,” Popkins explains. “And it’s trying to see in these multiple windows in different periods, how he has moved, and are the moves similar? Like, hey, when he moves small into his backside, it’s been good this year, this year, and this year. Completely different swings, but the same movement. You collect as many of those as you can, and you see the starting point that’s natural to him.”
The Last Word On Popkins
Popkins wasn’t hired to teach these guys how to swing. All in all, he was brought in to help them read pitches better and know when to swing. In addition, how to build an identity at the plate. As we get closer to the All-Star break, we’re seeing the downstream effects of revamped hitting.
Notably, they are chasing less, hitting with runners in scoring position more, and showing lots of success with comeback victories. They haven’t relied on slugging their way out of trouble. But by performing through tough at-bats and placing pressure on pitchers.
Main Photo Credits: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
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