TORONTO — There was no easing into the season for Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, who had to do much of the heavy lifting behind the plate in the absence of Danny Jansen, who started the season on the injured list with a wrist fracture.
Of the Blue Jays’ first 17 games, Kirk started in 14 of them. With the increased demands behind the plate, Kirk has gotten off to a slow offensive start this season. Before Monday, he was batting .170/.259/.170 and had yet to record an extra-base hit. Whether those two things are related is unclear but we’re about to find out if more rest benefits Kirk. Because with Jansen officially activated off the injured list on Monday, a more even share of the workload is coming soon.
But not before Kirk made one more start, with starter Chris Bassitt on the mound, and he helped propel the Blue Jays to a 3-1 win against the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre on Monday. Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk. He scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the second inning then hit an RBI double in the third that gave the Blue Jays a two-run cushion against the American League’s hottest team.
Kirk’s performance on Monday followed a two-hit, two-walk day on Sunday, suggesting perhaps the 25-year-old might be coming out of his early-season slump, which he attributed to trying to “do too much” at the plate. But over the last two games, Kirk has returned to trying to hit the ball up the middle and the other way.
“That’s been pretty much my approach the last couple of days and has been working for me pretty good,” he said through Blue Jays interpreter Hector Lebron.
The Blue Jays have been waiting for an offensive burst from Kirk. Only a few days ago, Blue Jays manager John Schneider commented on how Kirk’s timing at the plate looked just a little bit off through the opening two weeks of the season.
“Just getting out in front a little bit,” the manager assessed. “When he’s really good, he’s making a ton of contact and I think he’s getting out on his front side a little bit. Trying to chase a little bit of production, if you will. And when he’s really good, he’s kind of backing the ball up and seeing it deep so I think he’s kind of just rushing it a little bit right now.”
On Monday, Schneider saw Kirk look more like himself at the plate, especially against Yankees starter Luis Gil, whose hard, yet unpredictable stuff can make for an uncomfortable at-bat.
“(He had) good takes, controlling the zone. Got an extra-base hit, so we can stop laughing about that with him a little bit,” Schneider said. “When he’s controlling the zone, he’s usually taking good swings, and I think he’s backing the ball up a little bit. A couple of opposite-field hits yesterday, and then really good at-bats today. It’s what makes him good.”
Taking on a larger share of the catching duties isn’t anything new for Kirk. Last season, he started a career-high 84 games at catcher — including 21 in September — while appearing in 99 games at the position. So, this spring, when Jansen went down with a fractured pisiform bone and was sidelined to start the season, it was expected that Kirk would need to chip in more behind the plate.
Given his experience last year, Kirk knew how to prepare for the additional games at catcher. But even with his experience, and even though this occurred at the start of the season, and not during the stretch run like last season, it’s still been a challenge.
“It’s never easy. It’s never easy. We all know this position as a catcher demands a lot. It puts a lot of stress on your body,” Kirk said. “But it’s OK. It is what it is.”
The Blue Jays were comfortable putting that stress on Kirk, though, because over the last calendar year, he has made huge strides in his defensive game, especially when it comes to preparation, game calling and in-game adjustments. Against the Yankees, Kirk showed off that defensive acumen. He made a strategic mound visit in the third inning, as the pitch clock was running down on Bassitt. Then, in the fifth, he caught Yankees centre fielder Trent Grisham trying to steal second base.
“The caught stealing is such a huge play to keep them where they are in the order,” Schneider said. “Backing up first base, making a mound visit when the clock was running down with (Anthony) Volpe at second just little things kind of instinctually that he’s done. He’s really grown.”
Jansen is expected to make his 2024 debut on Tuesday with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on the mound, a tandem that worked well last season. Then, Kirk will start Wednesday’s day game as the Jays exercise caution with the just-returned Jansen. But following Thursday’s off-day, when the Blue Jays begin a road trip through San Diego and Kansas City, the Blue Jays expect to deploy Jansen and Kirk fairly evenly.
And while Schneider said Kirk handled this period “extremely well,” getting Jansen back into the mix will be a benefit.
“Having Jano back will be good for both of them,” the manager said. “Kind of easing Jano in a little bit and giving Kirky some time off of his feet.”
And while Kirk won’t admit it himself, the rest will be welcome.
“I think Kirk is happy Jano’s back, too,” Bassitt said with a smile. “What Kirky has done, I understand the offence was struggling, so to speak, but to play as many games as he did to start, that’s really tough for a catcher.
“Catchers don’t usually plan for that in spring training, so I know he’s been wearing it. He will never say what he feels, that’s just Kirky — but I’m sure he’s tired.”
(Photo of Kirk getting an ice bath: Nick Turchiaro / USA Today)
