{"id":587129,"date":"2026-04-07T02:29:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T02:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/587129\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T02:29:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T02:29:11","slug":"thumb-surgery-for-alejandro-kirk-means-an-extensive-absence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/587129\/","title":{"rendered":"Thumb surgery for Alejandro Kirk means an extensive absence"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Published Apr 06, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 2\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n

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\"AlejandroBlue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk could be out up to two months. Photo by Frank Gunn \/The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n

From the moment Alejandro Kirk raced to the dugout in Chicago on Saturday, the Blue Jays catching situation appeared to take a major blow.<\/p>\n

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That situation was confirmed on Monday when the team said that one of the team\u2019s most important players was headed for surgery to repair a fractured thumb on his left (catching) hand.<\/p>\n

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The Jays won\u2019t know how long they\u2019ll be without Kirk, who is coming off his best season in the majors, but depending on how the surgery and recovery go, it could be as long as two months.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could be three to four (weeks), it could be four to six,\u201d manager John Schneider said when he announced the update prior to Monday\u2019s opener of a three-game series<\/a> World Series rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers. \u201cWe\u2019ll see after the surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking about getting back to catching, getting back to hitting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of the prognosis could depend on whether doctors have to insert a pin, which won\u2019t be determined until the surgery takes place.<\/p>\n

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Disastrous weekend<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old native of Tijuana, Mexico, was nailed on the thumb after a foul tip from the White Sox\u2019s Austin Hays in the 10th inning of Friday\u2019s opener of what would be a disastrous 0-3 weekend for the Jays on Chicago\u2019s south side.<\/p>\n

In his absence, the Jays will look to backup Tyler Heinemann, who had an awful weekend in Chicago and young prospect Brandon Valenzuela, who was called up to take Kirk\u2019s spot on the roster.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no sugar-coating the effects of Kirk\u2019s absence, as Schneider acknowledged on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Kirky, around the game, is just an underrated player because of what he can do on both sides of the ball, it\u2019s pretty unique,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s contact, home runs, catching, blocking, throwing \u2026 we always talk about Kirky\u2019s super power is that he\u2019s just so steady. He never budges.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd that\u2019s hard to do when you\u2019re back there every day and you\u2019re either working a pitching staff or getting ready for an at-bat. That\u2019s the important part of his position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heineman must step up<\/p>\n

In the interim Heineman, who was to catch Max Scherzer in Monday\u2019s opene<\/a>r of the three-game set with the Dodgers, and Valenzuela, who is expected to get the call on Tuesday, will have to do their best to to hold serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing is I\u2019ve told (both catchers) that you are not Alejandro Kirk,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cYou are your own people and you have to do what you\u2019re good at. It\u2019s tough (looking Kirk) for sure, but we have to have guys step up.\u201d<\/p>\n

And of course the most critical area in which Kirk may be missed his in his game-calling and the way he manages the Jays pitching staff, among the skills he\u2019s developed that has made him so valuable.<\/p>\n

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