ALEJANDRO KIRK NEWS

Matz scheduled to start for Blue Jays at Athletics

The Blue Jays will start Steven Matz on Monday while the Athletics are expected to counter with Frankie Montas

MAY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Semien, Jays sweep Braves; Springer exits with tired legs

Marcus Semien homered and drove in four runs as Toronto finished off a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves with a 7-2 win

MAY 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bound for IL The Blue Jays will place Kirk (hip) on the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against Atlanta, Ben Wagner of Sportsnet reports.

Impact The transaction will clear a spot on the 26-man roster for Ross Stripling (forearm), who will be reinstated from the IL ahead of his scheduled start Sunday. Before exiting Saturday's game with a left hip flexor strain, Kirk had been off to a slow start to the 2021 season, slashing .225/.326/.475 in 46 plate appearances while serving as the No. 2 option at catcher behind Danny Jansen.

MAY 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Grichuk single in 10th, Springer 2 HRs as Jays beat Braves

Randal Grichuk lined an RBI single in the 10th inning, George Springer hit his first two homers with the Blue Jays, and Toronto rallied to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5

MAY 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Leaves with hip issue Kirk was removed from Saturday's game versus Atlanta with left hip flexor discomfort.

Impact The 22-year-old went 0-for-1 with a walk and a run before exiting the contest. The severity of the injury remains unclear, but Kirk figures to take a seat for the series finale Sunday afternoon.

MAY 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Morton scheduled to start for Braves at Blue Jays

The Braves will start Charlie Morton on Saturday and the Blue Jays are expected to counter with Travis Bergen

MAY 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alejandro Kirk's multi-HR game | 04/30/2021 Alejandro Kirk launched multiple two-run home runs to propel the Blue Jays' offense in a 13-5 victory against the Braves

MAY 1, 2021 • MLB.COM

Goes yard twice Friday Kirk went 2-for-4 with a walk, two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI in Friday's 13-5 win over Atlanta.

Impact The rookie catcher isn't noted for his power, but he took Drew Smyly deep in the fourth inning and pounded an Edgar Santana offering over the fence in the fifth for the first multi-homer game of his young career. Kirk heads into May hitting only .231 with three home runs and eight RBI in 16 games, but if his bat continues to heat up, the starting job behind the plate is there for the taking in Toronto.

MAY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kaitlyn McGrath: Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk changed his walk-up... - The Athletic Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk changed his walk-up music back to El Mechon tonight. He said a teammate — he couldn’t remember who — told him it w...

MAY 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Rays benefit from costly Biggio error, beat Blue Jays 5-3

Tampa Bay broke an eighth-inning tie when Toronto third baseman Cavan Biggio let a grounder go between his legs, and the Rays went on to beat the Blue Jays 5-3

APRIL 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alejandro Kirk's RBI single  | 04/21/2021 Alejandro Kirk slaps an RBI single to right field to score Bo Bichette, extending the Blue Jays' lead to 5-3 in the 9th inning

APRIL 22, 2021 • MLB.COM

Sits after four straight starts Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Impact Kirk was included in the lineup in each of the past four games, making two starts at designated hitter and two at catcher. Cavan Biggio's three-game absence due to a hand injury helped Kirk pick up some extra playing time, but the 22-year-old's path to an everyday role will ultimately hinge on the Blue Jays' comfort with him behind the dish. The Blue Jays' No. 1 catcher, Danny Jansen, is slashing .065/.147/.097 through 34 plate appearances this season, making it increasingly difficult for Toronto to trot him out on a regular basis.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alejandro Kirk's RBI double | 04/17/2021 Alejandro Kirk rips a double down the left-field line that allows Josh Palacios to score from first for the first run of the game

APRIL 18, 2021 • MLB.COM

Blasts two-run homer Kirk went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Yankees.

Impact The 22-year-old was hitless in 13 at-bats through his first six appearances of the season, but he finally connected Wednesday for his second home run of his career. Kirk has received five starts in Toronto's first 12 games of the year and may need to improve at the plate to maintain that level of playing time, though fellow catcher Danny Jansen has struggled similarly (2-for-22) to open 2021.

APRIL 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bichette hits 2nd homer in 9th, Blue Jays beat Yankees 5-4

Bo Bichette homered twice, including a game-ending drive leading off the ninth inning that lifted the Toronto Blue Jays over the New York Yankees 5-4

APRIL 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alejandro Kirk's two-run homer  | 04/14/2021 Alejandro Kirk crushes a deep two-run home run to left field, giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning

APRIL 14, 2021 • MLB.COM

Higashioka and Cole help Yankees beat Blue Jays 3-1

Kyle Higashioka homered twice to support Gerrit Cole, and the New York Yankees beat Toronto 3-1 in the Blue Jays temporary home at their spring training ballpark

APRIL 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alejandro Kirk on making roster | 03/31/2021 Alejandro Kirk discusses how manager Charlie Montoyo broke news of making the Opening Day roster, and the joy he is feeling going into game...

MARCH 31, 2021 • MLB.COM

Blue Jays: Arguing whether Alejandro Kirk should have made the roster The Toronto Blue Jays announced a few players would make the roster for Opening Day this year, with top-catching prospect Alejandro Kirk joi...

MARCH 29, 2021 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

Claims Opening Day roster spot Kirk was informed Sunday that he would be part of the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Impact After mashing over his nine games with the Blue Jays as a rookie late in the 2020 season, Kirk hasn't cooled off so far this spring, posting a .917 OPS in 24 at-bats. While Danny Jansen's superior defense should keep him locked in as the Blue Jays' top catcher to begin 2021, Toronto likely wouldn't have carried the 22-year-old Kirk on the Opening Day roster if he wasn't in line for a fair share of at-bats. It's reasonable to expect a 60-40 percent split of the playing time at catcher between Jansen and Kirk, with the latter perhaps occasionally factoring into the mix at designated hitter as well. That should be enough to make Kirk a draftable option in AL-only leagues and deeper mixed leagues that start two catchers.

MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy baseball sleepers: Alejandro Kirk, Jon Berti and more players to target late Gene McCaffrey highlights a dozen players with ADPs outside the Top 300 that he'll be targeting late in fantasy baseball drafts.

MARCH 21, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Montoyo on Ray, Kirk dynamic | 03/19/2021 Charlie Montoyo discusses the chemistry building between starter Robbie Ray and catcher Alejandro Kirk, and if they will be paired together

MARCH 20, 2021 • MLB.COM

Alejandro Kirk, Willy Adames and more super deep sleepers to target for fantasy baseball 2021 Gene McCaffrey highlights a dozen players with ADPs outside the Top 300 that he'll be targeting late in fantasy baseball drafts.

MARCH 20, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Alejandro Kirk's solo home run | 03/19/2021 Alejandro Kirk belts a solo home run to right field, putting the Blue Jays on top, 1-0, in the 2nd inning

MARCH 19, 2021 • MLB.COM

Springer, Semien add veteran presence to Jays' young core

The Toronto Blue Jays were already loaded with young talent when they spent big this winter to add outfielder George Springer and infielder Marcus Semien, a pair of playoff-tested...

MARCH 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS