The Twins have hired David Popkins as their new hitting coach, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (via Twitter). Popkins will take over for Edgar Varela, who was reassigned from the position earlier this month.
Popkins has worked in the Dodgers’ minor league system for the last three years, including working this past season as the hitting coach for high-A ball Great Lakes Loons. This represents the highest tier of Popkins’ coaching experience, though as teams have increasingly looked to expand the scope of coaching hires, prior experience on a big league staff or even in the upper minors is no longer the prerequisite it once was.
Popkins also brings a fresher perspective to the mix, as he doesn’t turn 32 years old until next month and isn’t far removed from his own playing days. An undrafted free agent, Popkins caught on with the Cardinals and played in their farm system for three seasons, reaching as high as the Double-A level in 2014. He then went onto play three seasons of independent ball before calling it a wrap on his on-field career.
The Minnesota lineup lacked consistency in 2021, as while hitters combined for a slightly above-average 101 wRC+ (ranking 11th in baseball), the team’s overall .241/.314/.423 left something to be desired. Overall, the Twins still showed plenty of power in finishing fifth in the league in home runs, but finished around the middle of the league in several other offensive categories. Getting more out of Max Kepler, Alex Kirilloff, and Trevor Larnach could be the top priority on Popkins’ list, though the Twins also have some very dangerous bats in Jorge Polanco, Josh Donaldson, and (when healthy) Byron Buxton.
This guy should be a really solid addition to the team. I think he brings something that the last guy didn’t have. I base that on absolutely nothing though, as I’ve never heard of him.. He’s probably better than the last one though, Of course, he could be worse.
At first glance it might seem odd to hire David S. Pumpkins as your pitching coach, but we know Tom Hanks has managerial experience from A League of Their Own. Bold move.
What will Mary now do all season?
Due to all the embarrassment, she’ll legally change her name to Poppins
I don’t think Kellogg’s puts enough strawberries in their Popkins.
Mary Popkins another 1 and done
They seriously needed a new hitting coach. Surprised Sano was not mentioned. His upside if is tremendous if he can get his bat going more consistently.
Kepler I never was too excited about. I wish we would trade him and sign an outfielder like Starling Marte who can play any of the 3 outfield positions and is a great insurance policy to Buxton injuries. He also has some base stealing skills we just don’t have and would be amazing as a lead off hitter.
If Buxton is healthy and Marte is in right field, he would be a massive upgrade to Kepler.
Sano has ZERO upside. just a fat guy who connects for 30 long home runs a year – and like Brian Dozier, hits most of them with no one on base and after the team is out of the race. He wasn’t mentioned because there is at least one team out there who will trade for him this off-season.
Brian Dozier was a leadoff hitter and played good defense.
Dozier was not always a leadoff hitter…the year he hit 42 homers, most came in August and September, long after they were eliminated from playoff contention. he was average at best at baseball’s easiest position. sorry, Garry – we know you’re Brian’s mom.
They seriously needed a new hitting coach. Surprised Sano was not mentioned. His upside is tremendous if he can get his bat going more consistently.
Kepler I never was too excited about. I wish we would trade him and sign an outfielder like Starling Marte who can play any of the 3 outfield positions and is a great insurance policy to Buxton injuries. He also has some base stealing skills we just don’t have and would be amazing as a lead off hitter.
If Buxton is healthy and Marte is in right field, he would be a massive upgrade to Kepler.
Hope this new guy pans out.
He should bring a bit more pop to the line-up
I’m David Popkins!
A 32 year old with 3 years of minors experience who topped out at AA, and has only High A experience as a hitting coach. Wow. Derek Falvey’s clown car of dubious baseball decisions keeps growing.
“But he came from the Dodgers org!” says Derek, with his fingers still in his ears, as everyone with an ounce of baseball acumen reminds him of all the talent he’s let go (with little in return) that he inherited from the previous regime.
Worst President of Baseball Oops (pun intended) in the game.
Is it a requirement now that MLB hitting coaches had to be poor hitters as players?
Where’s Tom Brunansky?
I would have liked to get someone with a more proven track record but I doubt many of those were available. I hope he has that secret sauce to get the most out of our bats.