DAVIS, Calif. — Former UC Davis standout David Popkins will represent the Aggies on baseball's biggest stage this week as the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, who face the National League champion Dodgers in the World Series beginning Friday.

A two-time All-Big West First Team selection, Popkins led UC Davis in batting average in both 2010 (.388) and 2011 (.321) and earned ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region Second Team honors in 2011. He remains tied for the most hits in a single game in program history with six at Cal State Bakersfield.

After going undrafted, Popkins signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 2012 and reached Double-A in 2014. He was hired by the Blue Jays on Oct. 21, 2024, and in his first season guiding Toronto's offense, the team ranked among Major League Baseball's top five in runs scored, wRC+ and OPS after having not finished within the top-12 in any of those categories the year prior.

Under Popkins' direction, Toronto's approach fueled breakout seasons from George Springer, Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement.

Game 1 of the World Series is Friday night in Toronto at 5 p.m. PT at the Rogers Centre. The game will be televised nationally on FOX.