Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk to see specialist for second opinion on injured thumb
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will travel to Pennsylvania to see a specialist for a second opinion on his fractured thumb.
The Toronto Blue Jays have lost a key contributor for a while, as catcher Alejandro Kirk was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a left thumb fracture suffered in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the White Sox.
Catcher Brandon Valenzuela, the team's No. 24 prospect, was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
He will be available for today's game against Chicago, backing up Tyler Heineman.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that Kirk's thumb is also dislocated
According to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet, X-rays revealed the fracture as well as a dislocation, per manager John Schneider.
According to John Schneider, there was a dislocation of Kirk’s left thumb, as well as a fracture. The break was not at the tip, but in the middle of the thumb “almost over the knuckle… weird.” As far as they know right now, there is no ligament damage.
Kirk will meet with a specialist on Monday to determine whether surgery is necessary.
Kirk will visit Dr Graham in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, on Monday, and see if they need to do any kind of surgical intervention or pin in his thumb per Schneider
Blue Jays may be without Kirk for an extended period
Based on similar injuries, the Blue Jays can expect to lose Kirk for at least six to eight weeks if he undergoes surgery.
Any extended absence would be a blow to the Jays as they look to make another deep postseason run.
The team is currently 4-3 and in second place in the AL East, although they’ve been outscored by their opponents 33-31.
In addition, Kirk is arguably the team’s second-most valuable player behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
After below-average offensive seasons in 2023-24, he rebounded last year to post a 116 wRC+ along with career highs in home runs (15) and runs batted in (76).
The 116 wRC+ was more in line with his 110 career wRC+ and makes him well above average for a catcher.
Indeed, Kirk’s 4.7 fWAR was second only to AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh at that position.
For now, for at least some time, Heineman and Valenzuela have to hold down the fort while Kirk heals.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Toronto Blue Jays place Alejandro Kirk on 10-Day IL with thumb injury
Toronto Blue Jays place Alejandro Kirk on 10-Day IL with thumb injury
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AVRIL 4|323 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk to see specialist for second opinion on injured thumb Do you think Tyler Heineman and Brandon Valenzuela will be able to maintain the offensive production at the catchers position while Alejandro Kirk is injured? | ||
| Yes | 105 | 32.5 % |
| No | 139 | 43 % |
| Too early to tell | 79 | 24.5 % |
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