Blue Jays place Alejandro Kirk on 10-day IL after 2-time All-Star catcher fractured thumb on foul tip
Alejandro Kirk was a key ingredient in the recipe that concocted the Toronto Blue Jays’ run to their first AL pennant in 32 years, and the two-time All-Star catcher remains one of the team’s most important players.
He will be greatly missed as he recovers from a broken left thumb. The Blue Jays placed Kirk on the 10-day injured list on Saturday, and the 27-year-old backstop will likely be out longer than that given his injury. He suffered it Friday in the 10th inning of a 5-4 road loss to the Chicago White Sox.
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When White Sox outfielder Austin Hays fouled a slider, his foul hit the bottom of Kirk’s glove. After failing to put it back together, Kirk took off his glove and grabbed his left thumb. He called the Toronto training staff, then left the game.
With Kirk out, the Blue Jays will turn to Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman behind the plate. They recalled Valenzuela, 25, from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, announcing that he will be active in the afternoon for the next game of Toronto’s series against Chicago. Valenzuela is the Blue Jays’ No. 24 prospect, according to MLB.com.
Meanwhile, Heineman has seven seasons of major league experience, including five in Toronto. Last year he played in 61 games and hit .289 with 3 home runs and 20 RBIs.
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As for Kirk, he’s gotten off to a slow start offensively this season. After an impressive 2025 – in which he slashed .282/.348/.421 and racked up a career-high 15 home runs and 76 RBIs while also catching 111 games – he’s hitting just .150 at the moment.
That said, his defensive presence has been crucial, especially as the Blue Jays have dealt with various pitching injuries.
They’ve already lost four starting arms to the IL: Cody Ponce (ACL), Shane Bieber (forearm), José Berríos (elbow) and Trey Yesavage (shoulder).
Toronto is off to a rough start to 2026. The Blue Jays lost their last series to the Colorado Rockies, and their injury situation is precarious less than a week into April.
