Alejandro Kirk's Broken Thumb Could Cost the Blue Jays Their Star Catcher for Weeks
Toronto's catching situation just got a lot uglier. Alejandro Kirk, the Blue Jays' star behind the plate, suffered a broken left thumb on a foul tip during Friday's loss in Chicago, and the team placed him on the 10-day injured list Saturday. But here's the thing: nobody's saying he'll be back in 10 days. Given the nature of a thumb fracture for a catcher, this could be a long absence.
The injury happened when Kirk got hit by the foul tip on his gloved hand. These things happen in baseball all the time, right? Catchers shake it off, rub their hand, and get back to work. Not this time. Kirk immediately turned and walked off the field. Manager John Schneider noticed it too after the game, saying Kirk's reaction was concerning. When your star catcher just walks off the field without hesitation, you know something is seriously wrong.
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Kirk, 27, was the backbone of a Toronto team that made it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Last year he hit .282 with 15 homers and earned his second All-Star appearance. That's not just a good catcher, that's a difference-maker.
The Blue Jays will turn to Tyler Heineman to carry the load at catcher while Kirk is sidelined. Heineman is highly regarded as one of the best backups in baseball, with seven seasons of big league experience and five of those with Toronto. He played 61 games last year, hitting .289 with three homers. Not bad for a backup, but he's not Kirk. Brandon Valenzuela has been called up to take Kirk's roster spot.
Injuries Are Piling Up Fast
Here's the real concern: Kirk isn't even the first guy to go down this season. Starting pitchers Shane Bieber, Jose Berrios, and Trey Yesavage have all landed on the shelf with arm problems. It's early April and the Blue Jays are already dealing with serious injury issues. You can survive losing one key player. But losing your catcher, multiple starting pitchers? That's the kind of thing that derails a season before May even arrives.
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