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The man behind the Blue Jays turnaround at the plate: David Popkins
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Adam Peddle
Jul 6, 2025, 11:03 EDTUpdated: Jul 6, 2025, 11:04 EDT
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There’s been a spark… an energy shift… a change in their style of play. Gone are the days of “run prevention.” This year, the Blue Jays are a gritty baseball team that never quits and always responds. Up and down the lineup, they’ve got dogs in there who are aggressive hitters ready to pounce on every mistake pitch and do damage.
That attacking mindset wasn’t around last year. In 2024, they appeared timid, defensive, and overthought everything.
So what changed?
If you’re a fan of Sportsnet’s pre- and post-game interviews with Hazel Mae and the crew, you’ve likely heard a common theme when players are asked about their recent success at the plate. Most of the boys give the same answer: David Popkins, the Blue Jays’ new hitting coach.
Last season, the offense was led by Guillermo Martinez, the hitting coach, and Don Mattingly, the offensive coordinator (don’t ask me what that even means in baseball).
For most of 2024, the offense was a drag. Before the All-Star break, the Blue Jays ranked 21st in MLB in OPS at just .687. That’s with a team where only Vladdy was beginning to find his elite form that bagged him his payday. The rest of the lineup was practically invisible. The bats were lifeless, and the Jays knew something had to change.
That change came in the offseason.
Martinez was fired, and Mattingly’s role shifted from offensive coordinator to bench coach. Then came arguably the best move the Blue Jays made last winter: hiring David Popkins.
Popkins previously served as the hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins in 2023. Under his philosophy, the Twins posted the seventh-best OPS in baseball at .754. They went on to beat the Blue Jays in the Wild Card series before losing to Houston in the ALDS.
Popkins’ hitting philosophy? I’d call it “situational” and “simple.”
“My philosophy is built off creativity,” he said, “trying to become the most creative lineup in scoring runs in baseball. And we do that by practicing all the different situations and clubs in the game.”
Oh, and he also made it very clear: he loves damage. And damage is exactly what the Blue Jays have been doing.
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“Honestly, I don't know if I've ever been a part of a team like this before. This team is just the definition of a team.” On how a focus on intent helped the Blue Jays spike their slug without sacrificing contact and the offence’s knack for finding a way: sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/ho…

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This season, the Jays boast the eighth-highest OPS in MLB at .735, a 48-point improvement from where they were last year before the All-Star break. 
But it took a while for the offense to get clicking. Since May 1st, the offense has caught fire, posting an OPS of .776, which ranks 3rd in baseball over that span.
Several individual players have taken massive steps forward:
  • George Springer’s bounce-back is remarkable: his OPS jumped from .674 to .898.
  • Ernie Clement has quietly been a key contributor, going from .692 to .738.
  • Addison “Bam Bam” Barger, who posted just a .601 OPS in limited time last season, is now an everyday weapon with an OPS of .840.
  • And then there’s Captain Kirk. The soon-to-be 2025 All-Star whose OPS rose from .678 to .771.
And those are just the highlights.
This is the most entertaining brand of Blue Jays baseball I’ve seen in years… maybe even since 2015/2016. Yes, they still need to address the pitching staff at the deadline, but this offense has given the front office a reason to go all in. Get the necessary arms to complement the resurging bats, and who knows what could happen.
But one thing’s for sure: David Popkins has given the Blue Jays a fighting chance this season.
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