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Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will undergo surgery on his fractured left thumb, manager John Schneider told reporters April 6 in Toronto.
MORE: Blue Jays give new trade acquisition MLB locker immediately before Dodgers game
Kirk suffered the injury in the 10th inning of the Blue Jays’ loss to the Chicago White Sox on April 3 when his mitt was grazed by a foul tip at close range.
Schneider told reporters the Blue Jays will learn when they can expect Kirk to return after the procedure is complete.
Losing Kirk, a two-time All-Star, leaves the Blue Jays’ catching situation in the hands of rookie Brandon Valenzuela and journeyman backup Tyler Heineman. Neither can replace the offensive firepower of Kirk, who backstopped the team all the way to their first World Series appearance in 22 years last fall.
MORE: Blue Jays All-Star has fractured thumb, immediately placed on injured list
Kirk, 27, is a two-time All-Star (2022 and 2025) who won the American League Silver Slugger Award at catcher in 2022.
Last season Kirk hit .282 with 15 home runs and a .769 OPS for the Blue Jays. He had two hits in his first 18 at-bats (.125) to start the 2026 season.
The injury to Kirk is the latest health setback to the defending American League champions in the early going of the 2026 season. It comes at a bad time. The Blue Jays are about to host a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of last year’s World Series, which the Dodgers won in seven games.
MORE: Blue Jays All-Star immediately leaves game after scary injury
Earlier last week, pitcher Cody Ponce suffered a right ACL sprain, an injury that could end his season.
Heineman, a journeyman in his sixth MLB season, is a career .243 hitter in 182 MLB games. The 34-year-old made his MLB debut in 2019 debut with the Miami Marlins.
Valenzuela, 25, made his big league debut April 5 in Chicago and went 1 for 3. He was acquired in a 1-for-1 trade with the Padres last July, in which the Jays sent shortstop Will Wagner to San Diego.
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MORE: Blue Jays give new trade acquisition MLB locker immediately before Dodgers game
Kirk suffered the injury in the 10th inning of the Blue Jays’ loss to the Chicago White Sox on April 3 when his mitt was grazed by a foul tip at close range.
Schneider told reporters the Blue Jays will learn when they can expect Kirk to return after the procedure is complete.
Losing Kirk, a two-time All-Star, leaves the Blue Jays’ catching situation in the hands of rookie Brandon Valenzuela and journeyman backup Tyler Heineman. Neither can replace the offensive firepower of Kirk, who backstopped the team all the way to their first World Series appearance in 22 years last fall.
MORE: Blue Jays All-Star has fractured thumb, immediately placed on injured list
Kirk, 27, is a two-time All-Star (2022 and 2025) who won the American League Silver Slugger Award at catcher in 2022.
Last season Kirk hit .282 with 15 home runs and a .769 OPS for the Blue Jays. He had two hits in his first 18 at-bats (.125) to start the 2026 season.
The injury to Kirk is the latest health setback to the defending American League champions in the early going of the 2026 season. It comes at a bad time. The Blue Jays are about to host a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of last year’s World Series, which the Dodgers won in seven games.
MORE: Blue Jays All-Star immediately leaves game after scary injury
Earlier last week, pitcher Cody Ponce suffered a right ACL sprain, an injury that could end his season.
Heineman, a journeyman in his sixth MLB season, is a career .243 hitter in 182 MLB games. The 34-year-old made his MLB debut in 2019 debut with the Miami Marlins.
Valenzuela, 25, made his big league debut April 5 in Chicago and went 1 for 3. He was acquired in a 1-for-1 trade with the Padres last July, in which the Jays sent shortstop Will Wagner to San Diego.
Continue reading...
