Mexican WBC manager has high praise for Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk
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Mexico's national team manager Benji Gil made his feelings clear on what Toronto Blue Jays’ All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk brings to the table in the 2026 WBC.
Alejandro Kirk played a pivotal role in the Toronto Blue Jays’ deepest postseason run in more than three decades, emerging as one of the team’s most reliable performers on the biggest stage.
Kirk, 27, posted an impressive .842 OPS during the playoffs, once again showing his ability to deliver under pressure.
That run, however, ended in heartbreak, as Kirk grounded into a double play in Game 7, an at-bat that ultimately closed the door on Toronto’s season.
Despite the disappointing finish, Kirk is set to return to a playoff-like atmosphere soon, though this time he won’t be wearing a Blue Jays uniform.
Kirk has confirmed his participation with Mexico’s national team in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, giving him another opportunity to compete on an international stage.
Ahead of the tournament, which begins in March, Mexico manager Benji Gil spoke highly of the Blue Jays catcher during an appearance on MLB Network’s Hot Stove. Gil emphasized the impact Kirk brings beyond the stat sheet.
“I think he commands a certain presence,” Gil said. “Maybe not with his voice, but just his presence. Having been in the World Series, a couple of All-Star games, and the position he plays. He might be a quiet leader, but whenever he has something to say, everybody is going to be all ears.”
Blue Jays' Kirk gets his second shot at participating in World Baseball Classic
The Tijuana native was unable to suit up for Mexico during the 2023 World Baseball Classic due to the birth of his child.
In his absence, Dodgers backup catcher Austin Barnes filled the role as Team Mexico made an impressive run to the WBC semifinals.
This time around, Kirk will join a talented Mexican roster that includes All-Stars Randy Arozarena and Jarren Duran, along with his childhood friend Jonathan Aranda.
Aranda, now a first baseman with the Tampa Bay Rays, publicly supported Kirk during the World Series, attending games while wearing a jersey from the youth team they once played on together.
At the time, Aranda said, “I want to see him win the ring. He deserves it.”
While that championship ultimately slipped away from Kirk and the Blue Jays, the catcher now gets a different kind of opportunity, sharing the field with a longtime friend as they represent their country on one of baseball’s biggest international stages.
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