Toronto Blue Jays star Alejandro Kirk has steadily been climbing the power rankings among catchers in Major League Baseball this season.
Not only did Kirk make his second All-Star team this year, but he’s become a more well-rounded player than ever before. His framing is at an all-time high, he’s close to a .300 hitter, and he’s on track to set a new career-high in RBIs.
Monday night’s win over the Minnesota Twins was the latest entry on a long list of games Kirk subtly has taken over this year.
Facing All-Star right-hander Joe Ryan, Kirk launched a two-run home run, his 11th of the season, to create separation in the very first inning, putting Toronto up 4-0. He then guided future Hall of Fame starting pitcher Max Scherzer to his fifth win of the season, with a workmanlike four-run, six-inning effort.
Even on a night when he didn’t have his best stuff, Scherzer was appreciative of what his catcher could do for the Blue Jays on both sides of the ball.
“He’s nails there behind the plate,” Scherzer said, per Ethan Diamandas of MLB.com. “And what he does offensively, he goes up there and delivers big hit after big hit for us. And so, he’s just one of many reasons why we’re a great team.”
Kirk is hitting .296 entering play on Tuesday, the best of any qualified catcher in the big leagues and 11th-best of all hitters, period. It’s only a point behind teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who got paid $500 million a few months ago because of his big bat.
Few would have Kirk in their top three, or even top five catchers around the league these days. He’ll never match Cal Raleigh’s home run total, and even Will Smith and William Contreras’ offensive upsides are a little greater.
But the Blue Jays know how underrated he’s become, and how lucky they are to have him on their side. If an all-time great like Scherzer recognizes it, it’s hard to form a counterargument.
