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ALCS Favorite Gives Ovation to Fired Twins Coach
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- ALCS Favorite Gives Ovation to Fired Twins Coach
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins stopped trying to make the postseason when they ripped apart the roster at the trade deadline . Really though, sweeping changes came to the organization after they suffered a catastrophic collapse down the stretch during 2024 .
President of baseball operations Derek Falvey decided to spare manager Rocco Baldelli at that time. Instead he made the hitting coaches his scapegoat and they were all dismissed.
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David Popkins quickly found work, and is now leading the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series. Imagine what could have been if he was still in Minnesota and had the Twins there.
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David Popkins a key to Toronto Blue Jays success
After Derek Falvey fired David Popkins and his assistants, the Pohlads gave their front office leader a promotion . He constructed another loser in 2025 , and this time fired manager Rocco Baldelli . It wouldn't be shocking if the manager finds the same success elsewhere that the hitting coach did.
Toronto was second in the majors this season among offensive fWAR, and no team struck out less. David Popkins got the Blue Jays to post the third-best slugging percentage in the American League, and he completely transformed the lineup production. Fans took notice.
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 Popkins in 2021 because they believe he could be a difference maker for their lineup. In 2024 he was saddled with a team that tore down payroll by more than $30 million , and he was blindsided being named the scapegoat for a collapse.
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It turns out that the firing was a blessing in disguise. Not only did he escape an ownership group unwilling to spend, but he got out from a front office unwilling to take ownership of their mistakes. Falvey continues to provide the same rhetoric , and how far it sinks the franchise remains to be seen.
Blue Jays credit David Popkins for 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.
"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
As MLB.com's Mike Petriello so eloquently displayed , the difference for Toronto this season is intent. They have made contact before, but Popkins urged them to change the quality of that contact.
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.
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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. No Blue Jays hitter goes to the plate willing to give up on an at-bat, and Popkins has them willing to grind but also focusing on doing damage.
Minnesota could certainly have used that philosophy in 2025, and going forward. Too bad Popkins was fired rather than being part of the solution.
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