Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk takes massive step towards injury return

The Toronto Blue Jays have been without Alejandro Kirk since early April after he was forced to undergo thumb surgery. But now, the catcher is nearing his long-awaited return to the major leagues.

On Wednesday, Kirk will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin, via Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. He will begin his rehab assignment as solely as a designated hitter before advancing further. Kirk has been able to catch a live batting practice and hit against live pitching at Dunedin.

The Blue Jays are still sure to be cautious with Kirk. The last thing they want is a setback. But if he is able to get through his rehab assignment healthy, his path to the majors is clear. Kirk will first need to get through his first appearance on Wednesday. Depending how that goes, Toronto will figure out his next steps. Ultimately, the franchise would like to see him catch and swing a bat cleanly before returning to the majors.

Kirk appeared in just five games before suffering his injury, hitting .150 with a home run and two RBIs. But the Blue Jays are well aware of what the catcher brings to the table, as he has hit .267 with 52 home runs and 265 RBIs over his seven years with the franchise. He was named an All-Star for a second time in 2025 after hitting .282 with 15 home runs and 76 RBIs.

At 29-32, the Blue Jays sit 8.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. The franchise could use a spark. If everything goes well during his rehab assignment, Kirk may soon be in Toronto to provide it.

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