$92M Lessons: How the Blue Jays made their way to the ALCS through internal development, not big signings
When the lineup was introduced before Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday, the Rogers Center crowd erupted in one of the loudest cheers reserved for a key supporting cast member: the Toronto Blue Jays first-year hitting coach David Popkins.
The former Driveline Baseball client played a key role in helping the club go from last place a year ago (20 games behind the Yankees in the standings) to winning the AL East this year.
Savvy Jays fans understand this.
The Blue Jays also advanced to compete in the ALCS for the first time in a decade.
It’s not just the progress that’s worth noting; how It’s done.
Yes, the Blue Jays made some big additions this offseason in hopes of upgrading their roster from a year ago, and it’s a team that’s been in decline for years since its hard-hitting ability in 2021.
Club signing Anthony Santanderr struck a five-year, $92 million deal in an effort to import mid-tier orders. Toronto also made a trade to acquire Elite Gloves Andres Gimenez, is locked into a long-term deal.
But these high-profile upgrades will have minimal impact on their 2025 season.
Santander’s first year in Toronto was plagued by injuries. He hit six home runs in 221 games (62 wRC+) after hitting 44 for Baltimore last season.
Jimenez was also limited to 101 games due to injury.
They add up to 0.1 fWAR.
So, how did the Blue Jays get to the ALCS? Much of the Blue Jays’ improvement has to do with internal growth, namely significant improvements among retained players.
As a team, the Blue Jays rank second in position player fWAR (32.6) and fourth in wRC+ (112) this season. This marks a huge jump from 2024, when they posted 21 fWAR and 101 World RC+. This improvement equates to a residual added value approaching nine figures.
It’s also interesting to note that since bat speed decreases with age, this suggests a real change in process and real recognition by players.
Exit velocity, which is closely related to bat speed, has also improved among many of the returning Blue Jays.
Toronto holds four of MLB’s top 70 exit velocity improvers: Addison Barger (13th +3.4 mph overall speed), Springer (36th +2.4 mph), Davis Schneider (52ND +2.1 mph) and Beau Bichette (70th is +1.8).
What has changed?
While it’s hard to blame these improvements on just one thing, the Blue Jays introduced a new variable immediately after last season: Popkins.
Last summer, writing for theScore (Toronto), I conducted a survey The Blue Jays offense struggled.
There was a lack of urgency to change the process at the major league level last season. Many hitters’ fundamental skills are going in the wrong direction. Last season, the Blue Jays Ranking Ranks third-worst in a number of metrics, including a key fundamental offensive skill that can improve with age: aerial pull percentage.
Last summer, I asked former Blue Jays infielders to bring up the club’s poor air pull percentage rankings last summer Justin Turner his thoughts.
Turner, an airball OG, gave a two-word response: “Not good.”
This season? The Blue Jays improved from 155 to 186 home runs. That’s the equivalent of adding a hidden 31-home run slugger.
As an organization, Toronto has made significant investments in player development staff and tools throughout the organization in recent years.
The Jayhawks have made significant investments in infrastructure, particularly at the complex and Rogers Center in Dunedin, Florida. They’ve added staff like advanced batting biomechanics Ben Jones, A former drivetrain guy who helped speed up our project. The Jayhawks sent five minor leaguers to work at the Drivetrain facility the previous two offseasons.
Popkin became a key part in translating those efforts to the MLB level.
As a professional player, Popkin trained at Driveline. He was and still is curious. He uses the best practices in training and teaching, from increasing bat speed to better swing decision-making.
think about him tell sportsnet Intention, it had an impact on the Blue Jays’ progress.
“When players want to take an aggressive swing, it’s about giving them the freedom to take an aggressive swing,” Popkins said. “It’s okay to miss, it’s okay to chase when you win the count or you can take your best swing when the situation calls for it.
“A lot of guys get into a situation where they’re afraid of being embarrassed by swinging, missing or chasing a bad pitch, and their swing becomes more conservative; they don’t allow themselves to be dangerous athletes. We let them fail, we let them work out certain things so you become aggressive and you become fearless. That’s what I think we’re seeing.”
Intention is an important part of the training and driveline philosophy.
It’s the foundation of a bat speed and bat path regimen and everything we do in the gym and in the batting cage. The best teachers and teams understand this.
blue jays infielder Ernie Clement is one of the Blue Jays that has improved year over year. He has transformed himself from a utility player with the glove into an everyday contributor.
“It goes back to intent,” Clement told Sportsnet. “We’re not going to let them get us out on the pitcher’s pitch the first few pitches. If I hit a fastball in the middle of the first pitch, I’m okay with that. That’s my intention. But if I get out on a pitch that’s two pitches away from home plate, that doesn’t do anybody any good.
“So, I just think we have a good understanding of the area and we’re just a bunch of guys honing in on the long ball and really getting the starting pitchers to make plays.”
The Jays have proven you can just do things and get results.
This improved process can help players progress in ways that were once thought impossible, even older players like Springer (or Nolan Arenado or Mookie Betts, who both train with Driveline).
This kind of player development advancement helps just about everyone in the organization.
This is good for the club because it adds value to the roster in ways other than expensive outside improvements via trade (prospect cost) or free agency (salary cost) — and it’s good for the players, too, because they can improve their abilities and future earning potential in arbitration and/or free agency.
Popkins and the 2025 Blue Jays are a striking example of how quickly changes in player development can have an impact.
Sometimes it can change everything.
