MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins are getting at least one new hitting coach.
Days after completing an epic collapse that left them out of the playoffs, the Twins informed hitting coach David Popkins he won’t return in 2025, according to a team source.
Popkins was told he won’t be renewed after his contract expired at the end of a season in which the Twins won only 12 of their final 39 games, missing the playoffs by four games. On Aug. 17, the Twins were 70-53 and had a 92.4 percent chance of making the playoffs.
It wasn’t immediately clear if assistant hitting coaches Derek Shomon and Rudy Hernandez would return.
On Aug. 17, the Twins were 70-53 and had a 92.4 percent chance of making the playoffs.
But a team that in July ranked top five in runs scored could no longer hit, a thin pitching staff couldn’t hold a lead and fundamental play went out the window. Suddenly, a team that seemed destined for the postseason couldn’t hold it together.
Over their final 39 games, the Twins batted .228/.292/.354 and scored 3.6 runs per contest. Despite their slump, the Twins managed to finish 10th in the majors in runs scored (742) and ninth in Weighted Runs Created Plus (107) for the season. The Twins also finished in the top 10 in runs scored and wRC+ in 2023.
On Sunday, Twins shortstop Carlos Correa gave Popkins, whom he’s previously called his best major-league hitting coach, a vote of confidence.
“Definitely learned a lot about my swing, learned a lot about my approach, learned a lot about just the game in general,” Correa said. “Popkins helped me understand myself a little better. A .900 OPS for some people comes with homers and walks. For me, it comes with being a little more creative and he helped me understand that I don’t have to hit a home run every at-bat. Pop has been a huge help for me and I’m grateful that I came to this organization and he was my hitting coach.”
(Photo of David Popkins: Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins / Getty Images)
