Per projections, the Twins had a greater than 90% chance to win the American League Central in Aug. 2024 after winning their first postseason series in 21 years the season prior. However, Minnesota shockingly collapsed and missed the playoffs. As a response, the Twins fired hitting coach David Popkins after three seasons with the organization.
Fired Minnesota Twins coach, David Pokins, seeing success with ALCS-bound Toronto Blue Jays
Now, Popkins is the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, who punched their ticket to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Wednesday after defeating the New York Yankees 3-1 in the American League Division Series (ALDS). During the regular season, the Blue Jays led Major League Baseball in batting average (.265) and on-base percentage (.333) while ranking fourth in wRC+ (112). Meanwhile, the Twins finished the 2024 season ranked 13th in batting average (.246), 12th in on-base percentage (.315) and ninth in wRC+ (105).
While hitting coaches likely have minimal impact on game results, one has to wonder why the Twins fired Popkins if arguably the best team in the American League this year immediately hired him after he got cut loose. Like they did with Rocco Baldelli recently, the Twins needed to scapegoat someone after the disappointing season. Firing Popkins was one way for the front office to demonstrate to fans that change was on the horizon.
However, change was not on the horizon, at least not good change. The Twins signed a few solid free agents (Harrison Bader, Danny Coulombe and Ty France) on affordable deals last offseason, but the bottom line is the team didn't make any significant signings or trades. Before it was dismantled at the trade deadline, the Twins' 2025 roster was pretty much the same as the previous year. Firing Popkins wasn't going to significantly improve the offense; it ended up being even worse. Bigger moves needed to be made.
Twins fans probably wish the team had held onto Popkins, but again, hitting coaches likely have minimal impact on game results. Still, Popkins wasn't the reason for the Twins' struggles in 2024, yet he was the one who was ultimately blamed.
ALCS Game 1 is scheduled to commence at 7:03 p.m. CT on Sunday at Rogers Centre in Toronto.