Blue Jays 2026 report card: coaches and management

While players win or lose games, management and coaches decide who is on the diamond and ultimately set the tone for the organization. The Toronto Blue Jays are no exception. Here is a letter grade for each key leadership figure in 2026. 

David Popkins - Hitting Coach

How the mighty have fallen. Around this time last year, Popkins was being praised as the saviour of the Blue Jays as they slugged their way back into the postseason. Just about every hitter on the roster looked like the best version of themselves en route to the World Series. 

Flash forward to now, and the Blue Jays missed the playoffs because they couldn’t score runs at a league-average rate. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the worst he’s ever been. Ernie Clement regressed. Project hitters like Jésus Sánchez failed miserably. 

Popkins said it best himself: his hitting philosophy didn’t hold up this season. His job is to help the players hit, and they didn’t hit a lick in 2026.

Grade: F

John Schneider - Manager

Schneider gets more than his fair share of criticism as the primary decision-maker for the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s no stranger to making head-scratching choices that draw the ire of the team’s passionate fanbase and this year was no different. 

Still, while the skipper made several odd choices down the stretch, he did a solid job of managing a patchwork roster this season. The Blue Jays used a franchise-record 40 pitchers in 2026—things could have easily gone off the rails far sooner than they did. 

Grade: B

Blue Jays front office and coaching staff get their grades after a truly dissapointing 2026 season

Mark Shapiro - President and CEO

Shapiro is one half of the duo colloquially known as ‘Shatkins’ whenever the fans are upset. Yet, like Atkins, he has also done an excellent job this year. The Blue Jays’ organization remains in a great place with him in charge. 

Shapiro secured the necessary buy-in from ownership to sign those players. He also oversaw the creation of the brand-new Hall of Excellence to honour franchise icons, the latest step in a multi-year renovation project to overhaul the Rogers Centre. He’s helped improve the fan experience in meaningful ways since becoming the big boss.

Grade: A

Ross Atkins - General Manager

Speaking of people who have been criticized over the years, Atkins has been the whipping boy for the Blue Jays’ failures on more than one occasion. He’s made some truly indefensible decisions in his decade of running the team. 

What can’t be denied, however, is that he had a fantastic offseason heading into 2026. His big signings—Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Tyler Rogers—were slam-dunks. He also did well at the trade deadline, getting Brett Bateman in return for Kevin Gausman. 
Say what you want about Atkins, but this mess isn’t his fault.

Grade: A

Pete Walker - Pitching Coach

Walker’s most important job this season was to help Cease reach his full potential—and he accomplished this mission. His staff helped Cease refine his pitch mix and become the consistent ace that the front office paid him to be this year.

His work with some of the other pitchers left a bit to be desired, however. Trey Yesavage battled his command when healthy in 2026, while trade deadline acquisition José Soriano struggled after joining the team. He’s still got some work to do. 

Grade: B-

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