Inside The Twins

Four Twins assistants, including all three hitting coaches, won't return in 2025

David Popkins is among those who are reportedly being let go by Minnesota.
Will Ragatz|
Aug 2, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Batting practice baseballs await use prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
Aug 2, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Batting practice baseballs await use prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins at Target Field. | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Twins

The Twins are parting ways with hitting coaches David Popkins, Rudy Hernandez, and Derek Shomon, as well as infield coach/assistant bench coach Tony Diaz, the team announced on Wednesday. The Popkins news had previously been reported by The Athletic. All other coaches are expected to return to Rocco Baldelli's staff in 2025.

Minnesota's offense going ice cold was a big reason for the team's stunning 12-27 collapse over the final six weeks of the season that saw them miss the playoffs. They averaged just 3.6 runs per game over that stretch. As a result, it's not surprising to see all three hitting coaches let go, even if the Twins' season-long offensive numbers were still solid.

Popkins was the Twins' hitting coach for the last three seasons. Hernandez had been with the Twins since 2015, when he joined Paul Molitor's staff, and he had been in the organization for nearly 30 years. Shomon had been on the staff for the last two years. Diaz joined Baldelli's initial staff in 2019, initially serving as the third-base coach before moving to his current role a few years ago.

The Twins will have four openings to fill this offseason, but the rest of Baldelli's assistants — including bench coach Jayce Tingler, pitching coach Pete Maki, and third-base coach Tommy Watkins — will return.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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