Alejandro Kirk Injury News & Updates

Kirk is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rays.

This was essentially a certainty after Toronto clinched a spot in the postseason, as Kirk started 10 of the prior 11 games and could really use a breather. He hit .231 with two home runs, nine runs and 10 RBI in 27 September games.

Kirk went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional RBI in Friday's 11-4 win over the Rays.

Kirk got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning with his eighth long ball of the season and added a single an inning later to give him his second two-hit game in as many contests. With Danny Jansen (finger) landing on the injured list Sept. 2 and still without a clear timeline for a return, Kirk has been locked in as the Blue Jays' No. 1 catcher for most of the month. He's posted a .732 OPS to go with 10 RBI and eight runs over 26 games in September.

Kirk will hit the bench Saturday against the Rays.

Kirk augmented his time behind the plate last season with 49 starts at designated hitter, but his bat has dropped off this season to the point that he's been mostly stuck splitting time with Danny Jansen at catcher. He's been back in an expanded role in September with Jansen out with a broken finger, starting eight of the previous nine games, but it will be Tyler Heineman who starts Saturday.

Kirk is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rangers.

Kirk is hitting .250 with three doubles, five runs and four RBI in 10 games this month. Tyler Heineman is starting behind the plate, batting ninth.

Kirk is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's tilt in Oakland, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It's a day game after a night game, so Kirk will get a breather. Tyler Heineman is doing the catching for Hyun Jin Ryu.

Kirk isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Sunday against the Rockies, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kirk will get a day off after extending his hitting streak to five games Saturday. Tyler Heineman will get the nod behind the plate and bat ninth Sunday.

Kirk went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

Kirk opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out, two-run double before adding a third RBI with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The 24-year-old Kirk has gone 6-for-11 with four doubles in his last three games following a 4-for-31 (.129) stretch in his previous 10 contests. While Danny Jansen had been getting the majority of starts behind the plate recently, Kirk could regain some playing time with his hot bat. He's now batting .255 with six homers, 33 RBI, 25 runs scored and a .686 OPS across 331 plate appearances this season.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

The Blue Jays' timeshare at catcher has been favoring Danny Jansen of late. Jansen will pick up his fifth start in seven games, while Kirk has received the other two starts at catcher during that stretch. Kirk's lack of usage comes while he's maintained a lowly .513 OPS through 15 games in August.

Kirk will sit Saturday against the Guardians.

Kirk finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games, with Danny Jansen starting behind the plate. Kirk's disappointing .247/.328/.338 slash line means he hasn't had the opportunity to pad his playing time with starts at designated hitter in recent weeks. He last started at that position back on Aug. 4.

Kirk isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Thursday against the Orioles.

Kirk is just 2-for-18 across his last five games, so the Jays will give him a day off to regroup Thursday. Danny Jansen will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Kirk is on the bench for the series finale, but he appears to have overtaken Danny Jansen as the Blue Jays' top option behind the dish. The 24-year-old started at catcher in six of Toronto's last seven games, going 3-for-24 with an RBI during that stretch.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.

Kirk will hit the bench for the series opener after he had started in each of the last four games, with the most recent two coming at catcher while Danny Jansen (wrist) dealt with an injury. Jansen is back behind the plate Monday, but Kirk has made the case to remain part of a timeshare on the days he's not being used as a designated hitter. Though Kirk has been disappointing on the whole in 2023, he's in the midst of one of his best offensive stretches of the season. Dating back to July 20, Kirk has slashed .395/.500/.651 with three home runs and 8:4 BB:K in 13 games.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's win over the Angels.

Kirk led off the bottom of the fifth with a single before coming around to score the first run of the contest on a Santiago Espinal home run in the very next at-bat. The catcher would then tack onto Toronto's lead with a leadoff home run in the seventh, followed by a two-run shot in the eighth. It marked Kirk's first multi-homer game of the season and he's now batting .292 in July with three long balls and seven RBI.

Kirk went 4-for-5 in Saturday's 9-8 loss to the Mariners.

All four hits were singles, and none of them led directly to runs, but it's still another sign Kirk is beginning to turn his season around. The 24-year-old backstop has seven hits in his last two starts, and since the All-Star break he's batting .471 (8-for-17) to push his slash line on the season up to .252/.331/.330.

Kirk went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored in Thursday's win over the Padres.

Kirk singled in each of his first two trips to the plate and walked in third at-bat, but was left stranded each time. He then added a two-run home in the bottom of the eighth to put the Blue Jays up 4-0, his first long ball since June 5 against the Astros. The catcher is still hitting just .172 for the month after the three-hit performance while it was also his first time drawing a walk in his last 23 games.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Padres, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Kirk has sat out two straight and has caught just one of the last five games as he struggles through an extended slump at the plate. Danny Jansen will catch Jose Berrios.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Padres, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It will be Danny Jansen catching Alek Manoah. Kirk is in the midst of a 3-for-39 slump at the plate which has his OPS on the year down to .610.

Kirk is not in the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox.

Kirk served as the catcher in the first game of the doubleheader, so it's no surprise that he'll get some rest. He's been in the lineup for five of seven games since being activated from the injured list June 29, though he's gone just 2-for-16 with no extra-base hits.

Toronto activated Kirk (hand) from the 10-day injured list on Thursday.

It was a minimum stay on the IL as Kirk recovered from a laceration and bruise on his left hand. Maybe the time off can function as a reset of sorts for the 24-year-old catcher and designated hitter, who has posted an underwhelming .253/.337/.331 slash line with three home runs and 21 RBI through 59 games this season.

Kirk (hand) is trending toward a Thursday return from the injured list, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

That is the first day that Kirk is eligible for activation. He's been throwing, hitting and catching side sessions this week as he nears the end of his recovery from a laceration and bruise on his left hand.

The Blue Jays placed Kirk (hand) on the 10-day injured list Monday.

Kirk sustained a laceration in addition to some bruising to his left hand after being hit by a pitch in Sunday's 11-7 loss to the Rangers, and the Blue Jays evidently determined that his injury wasn't something he would fully recover from in just a couple of days. As a result, Kirk will hit the shelf for what could be a minimum-length stay, provided he doesn't experience any setbacks once he resumes baseball activities. Toronto called up Tyler Heineman from Triple-A Buffalo to provide depth behind top backstop Danny Jansen.

Kirk (hand) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

Kirk was fortunate to avoid a fracture when his left hand was hit by a pitch in Sunday's 11-7 loss to the Rangers, but he sustained a cut and a bruise and will get at least one day off to recover. Danny Jansen draws the starting nod behind the plate in Monday's series opener in Miami, while rookie Spencer Horwitz serves as Toronto's designated hitter.

Kirk had X-rays on his left hand come back clean and was diagnosed with a laceration and a contusion Sunday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.comreports.

Kirk exited Sunday's game at Texas after being hit by a pitch on the hand during his first plate appearance. The 24-year-old should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated, but it appears he's avoided a serious injury.

Kirk was removed from Sunday's game against the Rangers after being hit by a pitch on the hand, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old was hit by the pitch to open the second inning and was quickly replaced by Danny Jansen. Kirk is likely headed for X-rays and should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Baltimore.

Danny Jansen will do the catching for Yusei Kikuchi. Kirk is sporting a lowly .606 OPS since the beginning of May.

Kirk went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Tuesday's 11-6 loss to Baltimore.

Kirk was responsible for half of Toronto's scoring Tuesday, picking up three RBI singles in the lopsided defeat. The 24-year-old backstop has gone 5-for-9 in his last two games following a 3-for-19 (.158) stretch over his previous seven contests. Through 192 plate appearances this season, Kirk's slashing .266/349/.349 with three homers, 14 runs scored and 21 RBI while splitting catching duties with Danny Jansen.

Kirk is out of the starting lineup Friday against the Twins.

Tyler Heineman will catch and bat ninth versus the Twins and right-hander Sonny Gray. Kirk has posted a relatively disappointing .260/.350/.351 slash line with three home runs and 18 RBI through 51 games (177 plate appearances) this season for the Blue Jays.

Kirk is out of the starting lineup against Houston on Wednesday.

Kirk gets a breather after going 1-for-7 with a homer in the first two contests against the Astros. Tyler Heineman will catch Wednesday and hit ninth versus Ronel Blanco and Houston.

Kirk went 1-for-4 with his third home run of the season in Monday's loss to the Astros.

His second-inning solo shot off Brandon Bielak didn't end up meaning much for the Blue Jays in an 11-4 rout, but it did snap a 27-game homerless streak for Kirk. The 24-year-old slashed a tepid .259/.308/.294 during his power drought, but with Danny Jansen (groin) still sidelined, Kirk will continue to be leaned on heavily behind the plate.

Kirk is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game versus the Mets.

Kirk has swung the bat well as of late and went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk in the Blue Jay's win over the Mets on Saturday, but he'll get a day of rest for the series finale against New York. Tyler Heineman is starting behind the plate in Kirk's absence.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.

Kirk had started the last three contests but will sit out Thursday with it being a day game after a night game. Tyler Heineman will catch Kevin Gausman.

Kirk will sit Saturday against the Twins.

Kirk has served as the designated hitter just once in the last 20 games, so nearly all his playing time has to come behind the plate. Danny Jansen hit the injured list with a strained left groin Friday, which could mean an increased role for Kirk going forward, but it's Tyler Heineman who will be the catcher Saturday.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's loss against the Rays.

Kirk was the lone Blue Jay to record more than one hit in the contest. After a slow start to the season, the 24-year-old backstop has started to heat up, going 9-for-25 in his last seven games. Kirk's now slashing .248/.360/.333 with two home runs, 11 runs scored and 12 RBI through 139 plate appearances. Kirk is certainly capable of providing offense from the catcher position, and he could see an expanded role depending on the severity of Danny Jansen's groin injury.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Now on the bench for the fourth time in six games, Kirk looks like he'll be stuck in a part-time role at catcher and/or designated hitter until he can begin to catch fire at the plate. Though he's getting on base at a strong .353 clip thus far in 2023, Kirk isn't hitting the ball with much authority, as his ISO of .090 is down 40 points from last season. Since Danny Jansen remains the superior defender behind the plate, he'll likely continue to get the bulk of the starts at catcher at Kirk's expense.

Kirk is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Orioles.

Kirk will remain on the bench for a second straight game Saturday after he went 2-for-11 with a double and two strikeouts in the team's series with the Yankees. Danny Jansen will draw another start behind the plate and bat sixth against Baltimore.

Kirk is absent from the Blue Jays' lineup for Tuesday's tilt against the Yankees, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Danny Jansen will catch Kevin Gausman. Kirk has seen his OPS on the year fall to .658 after a 3-for-30 start at the plate this month.

Kirk is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against Atlanta.

Kirk will take a seat to begin a second consecutive game, although he did appear in Saturday's win over Atlanta while going 0-for-2. Danny Jansen will be behind the plate for the Blue Jays and hit eighth against Collin McHugh and that Atlanta bullpen.

Kirk will sit Saturday against Atlanta.

Kirk's plate discipline remains excellent this season, as he's walked 17.1 percent of the time to go with a 13.0 percent strikeout rate. He hasn't done much damage when he hits the ball, however, homering just twice while hitting .230, though his 8.1 percent barrel rate is just a tenth of a point below league average, suggesting potential for improvement. Danny Jansen starts behind the plate Saturday.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

With the Blue Jays and Phillies concluding their series Wednesday with a game that begins at 4:05 p.m. ET, Kirk will receive a breather for getaway day after he caught all eight innings of Tuesday's 8-4 loss. Danny Jansen will step in behind the plate, catching for starting pitcher Kevin Gausman.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

With a quick turnaround for Sunday's series finale, Kirk will get a breather after he caught all nine innings while going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run in Saturday's 8-2 win. Danny Jansen will slot in behind the plate while shortstop Bo Bichette gets a day out of the field and serves as Toronto's designated hitter.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

Even though he produced five hits over his two starts this past weekend against the Mariners, Kirk will end up sitting for the second time in three days. Kirk still appears to be the Blue Jays' nominal No. 1 catcher, but Toronto remains incentivized to keep backup Danny Jansen involved due to Jansen's superior work on the defensive end.

Kirk is not in the lineup Saturday against the Mariners.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in the Blue Jays' win over the Mariners on Friday, but he'll take a seat Saturday as Danny Jansen slots in at catcher. Brandon Belt is serving as the designated hitter.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.

The catcher became the first player this season to take Luis Castillo deep when he launched his second homer of the year in the second inning. Kirk has appeared in 20 of Toronto's 26 games so far while splitting his time between DH and backstop, posting a .263/.419/.386 slash line with seven runs and 10 RBI.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.

Danny Jansen is handling catching duties and Brandon Belt is serving as the Blue Jays' designated hitter, closing off Kirk's two avenues to playing time. Kirk is most likely just receiving a breather after he started at either catcher or DH each of the previous three days.

Kirk is absent from the Blue Jays' lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Danny Jansen will catch Yusei Kikuchi while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the designated hitter spot and Brandon Belt plays first base. Kirk hasn't done much at the plate in the early going with a .689 OPS.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

Danny Jansen will draw the start at catcher while Brandon Belt serves as the Blue Jays' designated hitter with Kirk sitting after he had been included in the lineup in three of the past four games. With an even 8:8 BB:K through his first 13 games of the season, Kirk appears to be seeing the ball well, but it hasn't translated to eye-popping fantasy numbers. He enters Monday's game with a .243 average, one home run, nine RBI and four runs.

Kirk isn't starting in Toronto's game against Tampa Bay on Friday.

After going 3-for-8 with a home run and five RBI in Toronto's last series against the Tigers, Kirk will get an off day to begin the Jays' series with Tampa. Danny Jansen will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Danny Jansen will get a turn behind the plate while Kirk sits after starting at catcher in three of the Blue Jays' previous four games. Kirk is getting on base at a strong .344 clip so far this season, but aside from a respectable RBI total of six, he isn't providing much else in terms of fantasy numbers (.222 average, one home run, two runs, no stolen bases).

Kirk went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Tigers.

After the catcher got the Blue Jays on the board in the second inning with an RBI single, Kirk jumped all over a Mason Englert offering in the eighth inning and drove it down the left-field line for a three-run shot. It's the first homer, and first multi-hit game, of the season for the 24-year-old, and Kirk is batting just .222 (6-for-27) through eight contests.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk will get a day of rest Sunday while Danny Jansen gets the start behind the plate. The 24-year-old has gotten off to a slow start with the bat to begin 2023 with a .182/.308/.182 slash over 22 at-bats in six games.

Kirk is absent from the Blue Jays' lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

He caught Wednesday night, so it will be Danny Jansen for a day game after a night game. Kirk has exactly one hit in each of his four games this season and has driven in a couple runs.

Kirk isn't in the lineup for Toronto's game against the Royals.

Kirk has logged a hit in each of the three games he's played in this season so far, but will take a seat Tuesday in order to rest. Danny Jansen will take his place behind the dish and bat seventh.

Kirk will sit Saturday against St. Louis.

Kirk is expected to split time with Danny Jansen behind the plate this season while also sharing designated hitter duties with Brandon Belt. It was Kirk behind the plate and Belt at DH on Opening Day, but will be Jansen and Belt who get the starts Saturday.

Kirk (illness) is starting behind the plate and batting fifth in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.

The 24-year-old was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to a non-COVID-related illness, but he'll return to action Wednesday after a couple days of rest. Kirk remains on track to work behind the plate for Toronto on Opening Day next week.

Kirk (illness) went through a full workout Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk had to be scratched from Sunday's lineup with a non-COVID-related illness but was feeling better a day later. The Blue Jays are off Tuesday, setting Kirk up for a possible return to game action Wednesday.

Kirk was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Rays due to a non-COVID-19 illness.

Kirk was penciled in to start behind the plate and bat cleanup, but an ailment will prevent him from taking the field. The 24-year-old's status for Opening Day shouldn't be affected by the illness, and he'll likely return to the lineup within the next few days.

Kirk (personal) will start at catcher and bat third in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

As Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun notes, rain is in the forecast in Dunedin, Fla. for Monday's game, so Kirk could have his spring debut pushed back a day or play fewer innings behind the plate than anticipated. In any case, Kirk looks on track to be ready to go for Opening Day, after he had previously spent the early part of camp away from the team to witness the birth of his child. After hitting .285 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI in 2022 while also making his first All-Star Game appearance, Kirk profiles as a strong No. 1 catcher for fantasy squads during the upcoming season.

Kirk (personal) could make his Grapefruit League debut as soon as Sunday or Monday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Kirk didn't report to camp until the beginning of March after being away from the team while awaiting the birth of his child. He's getting back up to speed, though, and is nearly ready for games.

Kirk (personal) is expected to be ready for game action by mid- to late-next week, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kirk arrived at camp Thursday after being away from the team while awaiting the birth of his child. He had been working out on his own while at home in California, though, so the Blue Jays expect him to get back up to speed quickly and be ready in plenty of time ahead of Opening Day.

Kirk is expected to join the Blue Jays in Florida on Thursday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kirk has been away from the team while awaiting the birth of his child. The backstop will have to play catch up after missing the first few weeks of spring training, bu Matheson does report that he's been doing individual work in California while away. Kirk should still be the Opening Day backstop once the regular season starts.

Kirk (personal) withdrew from the Mexican World Baseball Classic team Saturday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk isn't dealing with an injury, but he's yet to arrive at camp as he awaits the birth of his child. Both he and the Blue Jays felt that his eventual arrival wouldn't give him time to adequately prepare to catcher Toronto's new pitchers and acclimate to the new MLB rules while also spending time with Team Mexico. The news is a blow to Mexico's chances of advancing beyond the first round of the World Baseball Classic for the first time since 2009.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider noted Wednesday that Kirk (personal) might not be able to represent Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kirk has not yet arrived at Blue Jays camp in Florida as he awaits the birth of his child. "You're getting to the point where you really have to make the best decision for the club," Schneider said Wednesday. "Nothing yet on the baby front, so we've talked through a number of different scenarios regarding what's best for him and what's best for us. If it does get to that, then that will be part of the equation." Team Mexico is set to begin WBC play on March 11 in Phoenix.

Kirk has yet to report to spring training as he awaits the birth of his child, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports.

"We're still on baby watch," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday. "I thought it was going to be (Thursday). My last update this morning was, 'Not quite yet.' " Kirk is going to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, so after he does report he might only get in a couple weeks work before departing for the tournament in early March.

Kirk is out of the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Orioles.

Kirk will end up getting the full day off after he was on the bench for the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss in Game 1 of the twin bill. Danny Jansen will get a turn behind the plate while Teoscar Hernandez serves as Toronto's designated hitter.

Kirk isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

Kirk went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Monday and will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three matchups. Danny Jansen is serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup.

Kirk is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Orioles.

Several of the Jays' regulars are getting Tuesday off, including Kirk. Gabriel Moreno is starting behind the dish.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Kirk is 4-for-28 across his past eight games and will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. George Springer will receive some rest as the designated hitter while Jackie Bradley starts in center field.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

After starting each of the past eight games as either a catcher or designated hitter, Kirk will effectively get two days of rest while he sits Wednesday and with the Blue Jays off the schedule Thursday. Danny Jansen will handle catching duties in the series finale while George Springer serves as Toronto's designated hitter.

Kirk went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Rays.

The solo shot brought Kirk's RBI total to 62 on the season, good for fifth among all players who qualify at catcher. The 23-year-old backstop will be serving as Toronto's designated hitter in Monday's series opener with the Yankees, batting cleanup against New York right-hander Luis Severino.

Kirk (hip) went 3-for-5 with a walk, two RBI and two runs in Tuesday's 18-11 win over the Phillies.

Kirk didn't miss a beat in his return to the lineup following a one-week absence due to the hip injury. The All-Star backstop served as Toronto's designated hitter Tuesday and could end up seeing the majority of his starts in a non-defensive role to close out the season while fellow backstop Danny Jansen has swung a hot bat of late to stake his claim to a regular spot in the lineup at catcher.

Kirk (hip) is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup Tuesday against the Phillies.

He makes his anticipated return to the heart of the Jays lineup after missing almost a week with the hip injury. Kirk is hitting .289 with four runs and eight RBI this month but he is still search for his first September home run.

Kirk (hip) is expected to return Tuesday against the Phillies, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kirk was excluded from the lineup for a fifth consecutive game Sunday against the Orioles, but he was available off the bench if needed. The 23-year-old should be able to return to the lineup following Monday's scheduled day off.

Kirk (hip) is not in Sunday's lineup against the Orioles.

It sounds like Kirk is day-to-day at best, and he may not be ready to return even after Monday's off day. Kirk was not yet able to run on the field on Friday, but he was hitting and playing catch.

Kirk (hip) isn't starting Saturday against the Orioles.

Although Kirk is out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive matchup, he has resumed running and hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's series finale against Baltimore, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. However, Vladimir Guerrero will rest his legs as the designated hitter Saturday.

Kirk (hip) hit and played catch Friday, but he is not yet running, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

According to Zwelling, the Jays hop Kirk will continue to progress through the weekend, so it seems like he is day-to-day at best, and perhaps several days away from a return. Danny Jansen is starting behind the dish.

Kirk (hip) isn't starting Friday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Kirk has been dealing with left hip tightness recently and will be excluded from the lineup for a third consecutive game. He remains day-to-day for now, but Teoscar Hernandez will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup.

Kirk is dealing with left hip tightness, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It was a bit puzzling that Kirk was held out of the lineup Thursday for a second straight day, and the reason for a second consecutive absence is now known. Kirk is considered day-to-day and could be available off the bench Thursday if needed.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

Kirk did not appear in Wednesday's game, and he will open on the bench for a second straight day. No injury has been reported, so as things stands it appears he is just getting a couple days off amid a 4-for-23 (.174) stretch at the plate.

Kirk isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.

Kirk is getting a day off after he hit .333 with two doubles, six RBI, four runs, three walks and five strikeouts over the last eight games. Vladimir Guerrero will rest his legs as the designated hitter during Wednesday's matchup.

Kirk went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in a 4-1 win against Baltimore on Wednesday.

Kirk recorded three of Toronto's nine singles in the contest, and his fifth-inning knock resulted in the team's third run. This was the backstop's fourth straight game with an RBI, and he's gone 7-for-10 at the plate over the past two days. The hot stretch has pushed his batting average back over the .300 mark to .302.

Kirk isn't in the lineup for the second game of Monday's doubleheader with the Orioles.

With George Springer serving as the Blue Jays' designated hitter in Game 2 and Danny Jansen checking in behind the plate, Kirk will retreat to the bench. Kirk caught all nine innings of the Jays' 7-3 win in Game 1, going 0-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.

Kirk isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Pirates.

Kirk drew starts in the last two games and went 1-for-7 with a three-run homer, two walks and a strikeout. George Springer will take over as the designated hitter and lead off Saturday.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

Kirk heads to the bench after making two starts apiece at catcher and designated hitter over the Blue Jays' last four contests while going 2-for-14 with four walks. Danny Jansen will relieve Kirk behind the plate Tuesday, while George Springer gets a day out of the outfield to handle DH duties.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Kirk started the past eight games and will head to the bench after posting a .333/.400/.433 slash line with three doubles and seven RBI during that span. Danny Jansen will take over behind the plate in the series finale at Boston.

Kirk went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Wednesday's extra-innings victory over the Red Sox.

The All-Star catcher recorded three hits Wednesday after going hitless in his previous two games. The multi-hit effort pushed Kirk's batting average back over .300. Of catchers with at least 200 plate appearances, Kirk is the only one with an average over that mark, with the second being Chrsitian Vazquez at .288, followed by Will Smith at .270. Sporting an elite batting average, double digit home runs, and solid counting stats hitting in the middle of Toronto's lineup, Kirk has been one of the greatest surprises of the 2022 season.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 4-0 win over the Yankees.

The 23-year-old backstop slumped coming out of his first All-Star Game appearance, but Kirk appears to be finding his groove again. Over his last 10 games, he's batting .351 (13-for-37) with two doubles, two runs and five RBI, and as the rest of the Toronto offense heats up again too, Kirk's overall production should rise as well.

Kirk is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Orioles.

Kirk will get a day off after he went 1-for-10 with two strikeouts in the three-game series versus the Guardians. George Springer (shoulder) will take over at designated hitter in his return to the lineup and bat leadoff in the series opener.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles.

The All-Start catcher recorded three more hits Tuesday, as he continues to show why he was the AL's starting catcher in the Mid-Summer Classic. Kirk's excellent performance has been no fluke as he is above the 90th percentile among all MLB hitters in strikeout rate, average exit velocity, xwOBA, and xBA. Expect Kirk to continue putting up strong ratios and counting stats batting routinely in the heart of John Schneider's lineup.

Kirk is not in Friday's lineup against the Twins.

Kirk is hitless in his last 12 at-bats, which qualifies as a pretty bad slump by his standards. He is hitting .303/.387/.467 with 12 home runs in 351 plate appearances.

Kirk isn't starting Saturday against the Tigers.

Kirk started the last four games and went 4-for-16 with a home run, a double and two RBI. George Springer is serving as the designated hitter while Raimel Tapia starts in center field.

Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Thursday's win over the Tigers.

The 23-year-old hasn't let his first career All-Star appearance go to his head. Kirk has five multi-hit performances in his last 11 games dating back to July 12, batting .356 (16-for-45) over that stretch with two doubles and two homers to boost his slash line on the season to .316/.394/.490. Danny Jansen will likely see the majority of starts behind the plate now that he's healthy again, but Kirk will still be a fixture in the Blue Jays lineup while splitting his time between catcher and DH.

Kirk is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox.

Kirk will get a breather after he went 4-for-9 with an RBI and two runs scored in the first two contests of the series. Lourdes Gurriel will slide into the designated hitter spot while Raimel Tapia enters the lineup in left field and bats eighth versus Boston.

Kirk went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Royals.

Just ahead of his first career appearance in the All-Star Game, Kirk played hero for the Blue Jays, taking Wyatt Mills deep in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie. The homer was his 11th of the season, snapping a 19-game drought, but Kirk has hardly been quiet in July -- he's hit safely in six straight games and sports a .298/.333/.386 slash line through 16 contests on the month.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Seattle.

Kirk was in the lineup the past six games and posted a .530 OPS during that stretch, and he'll take a seat for Sunday's series finale. Gabriel Moreno will work behind the plate in his place and bat eighth.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Kirk has played a lot through the first three months of the season, and while a fair amount of that has been as the designated hitter, he needs a day off his feet every now and then. The 23-year-old is in the midst of a breakout and is looking like one of the best pure hitters in baseball -- not just at the catcher position -- with a .318/.409/.512 line through 69 games.

Kirk isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays.

Kirk drew starts in the last three games and went 2-for-11 with a double, three runs, an RBI and a walk. He'll get a breather in Saturday's matinee while Gabriel Moreno starts behind the dish and Cavan Biggio enters the lineup at first base.

Kirk will sit Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Kirk has broken out this season to the tune of a .322/.411/.525 slash line, with his 9.7 percent strikeout rate and 10.5 percent barrel rate representing a rare combination of contact and power. That's earned him frequent opportunities as a designated hitter whenever he isn't needed behind the plate, but he won't start at either spot this time around. Gabriel Moreno will catch for Ross Stripling while George Springer rests his legs in the designated hitter spot.

Kirk went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's loss against the Brewers.

Kirk launched a three-run blast in the first inning that scored George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero, the only runs that Toronto would score in the loss. The homer was Kirk's fourth in five games. Additionally, the catcher has nine hits during that span, including two two-hit performances and a four-hit game. Kirk is now slashing .322/.409/.523 on the season to go along with 10 home runs.

Kirk (hand) will bat cleanup as the designated hitter Saturday against the Brewers.

The 23-year-old sustained a bruise on his left hand when he was clipped by the bat on a backswing during Friday's contest, but X-rays came back negative and he won't end up missing a game. Kirk has homered in his past three contests, going 7-for-14 with six RBI and four runs.

Kirk was diagnosed with a bruised left hand when X-rays came back negative after being removed from Friday's game at Milwaukee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk was clipped on his glove hand by the bat on a backswing during the bottom of the seventh inning, but it appears he's avoided a serious injury. The 23-year-old continued his tear at the plate prior to exiting and homered for the third straight game. In addition to the two-run home run Friday, he went 3-for-3 with another run scored.

Kirk was removed from Friday's game against the Brewers with an apparent left arm injury, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

The 23-year-old was struck by the bat on a backswing during the bottom of the seventh inning, and he was lifted from the contest during a pitching change after the at-bat. Kirk was a major producer prior to leaving the game, as he went 4-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored. The Blue Jays also have an 8-2 lead, so the team could simply be exercising caution late in the contest. Kirk should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.

Kirk went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI during Wednesday's 9-5 win against the White Sox.

Kirk delivered an RBI single during the opening frame to start the scoring, and he followed up with a solo shot to center field during the third inning. The 23-year-old has gone deep in two straight games and is hitting .313 with five home runs, 13 RBI, 15 runs and a 10:10 BB:K through 18 contests in June.

Kirk isn't starting Monday's game against the White Sox.

Kirk started in the last five games and went 4-for-16 with a home run, a double, four runs and three RBI during that time. Vladimir Guerrero is serving as the designated hitter while Gabriel Moreno starts behind the dish.

Kirk went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 12-3 loss to the Yankees.

He took Jordan Montgomery deep in the sixth inning, but the Blue Jays were already in a 10-1 hole at that point. Kirk is slashing .354/.446/.604 through 14 games in June with three of his six homers on the season, and he should continue to see regular playing time between DH and catcher as long as he's raking.

Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Thursday's loss to the Orioles.

Getting the start at DH and hitting cleanup, Kirk was the only Blue Jay to collect multiple hits in a rough 10-2 loss. Rookie Gabriel Moreno seems to be Toronto's preferred option behind the plate right now given his defensive skills, but Kirk has still started five of seven games since Moreno's promotion as he splits time between designated hitter and catcher. Kirk's .356/.442/.556 slash line in June with two homers, eight RBI and nine runs through 52 plate appearances makes a compelling case for a consistent spot in the lineup.

Kirk is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Orioles.

Gabriel Moreno will start behind the dish while George Springer gets the nod at designated hitter. Kirk is hitting .351 with two home runs in 10 games this month.

Kirk went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's win over the Tigers.

Kirk doubled home Bo Bichette in the top of the first inning and sent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home on a single in the sixth. The catcher was able to score on a fifth-inning double from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Kirk is off to a scorching start to June, batting .429 this month after a hit in his last six games, including four multi-hit performances. In 13 games since May 23, he's only gone hitless once.

Kirk isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Royals.

Kirk has crossed the plate in four consecutive matchups, and he went 8-for-16 with two homers, six runs, three RBI, three walks and two strikeouts during that time. Zack Collins will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Kirk went 4-for-5 with a run scored in Tuesday's win over the Royals.

Kirk singled and scored on a Matt Chapman double in the top of the second inning before later adding three more base knocks in the contest. He now has a five game hit streak, going 10-for-19 with two home runs, three RBI and six runs over that stretch. Since May 23, Kirk has notched at least one hit in 11 out of 12 games, raising his season-long batting average from .260 to .322. He continues to split time with Danny Jansen at catcher, but he has carved out a consistent role as the Blue Jays' top option at designated hitter.

Kirk isn't starting Friday against the Twins.

Kirk will get a breather after he went 7-for-16 with two homers, two doubles, six runs, five RBI, two walks and two strikeouts over the last four games. Teoscar Hernandez will serve as the designated hitter while Raimel Tapia starts in right field.

Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double in Thursday's win over the White Sox.

The 23-year-old remains locked in at the plate. Kirk has five multi-hit performances in his last seven games, batting a dizzying .480 (12-for-25) over that stretch with four doubles, two homers, six RBI and nine runs scored. Danny Jansen is also raking right now, so two of Kirk's last three starts have come at DH, an arrangement that will likely remain in place until at least one of them cools down.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the White Sox.

He got the Blue Jays on the board with a two-run shot off Lucas Giolito in the second inning, then took the Chicago right-hander deep again for a two-run blast in the fifth that wound up supplying the winning runs for Toronto. Kirk snapped an 18-game homer drought with the performance and has only three long balls on the season, but he's riding a six-game hitting streak during which he's gone 11-for-21 (.524) with three doubles, six RBI and 10 runs scored.

Kirk went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk and four runs scored in Sunday's 11-10 win over the Angels.

Kirk has scored eight runs in his last five games, a span in which he's gone 8-for-17 with three doubles. The catcher has played well for much of the season, but his recent uptick in offense has lifted his slash line to .289/.371/.372 with a home run, nine RBI, 15 runs scored and seven doubles in 140 plate appearances. If Danny Jansen (hip) is forced to miss any more time, Kirk would logically pick up the slack behind the dish.

Kirk will start at catcher and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Angels.

Kirk will get a turn behind the plate in the series finale while fellow backstop Danny Jansen takes a seat. Though he's been swinging a hot bat of late by going 6-for-13 with two doubles, a walk, four runs and an RBI over his last four games, Kirk has faded into more of a part-time role following Jansen's return from the injured list earlier this month. Kirk is starting Sunday for just the fifth time in nine games.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Kirk is 4-for-19 with two doubles, four walks, two RBI and a run over his past seven contests and will head to the bench Sunday for the second time in the past three games. Danny Jansen will take over behind the plate and bat seventh.

Kirk will be on the bench Friday against the Reds.

Kirk has held onto regular playing time even after Danny Jansen returned from an oblique injury, starting twice behind the plate and twice as the designated hitter through six games. He's hitting .311/.373/.467 with more walks (five) than strikeouts (four) over his last 14 games, but he'll hit the bench here with Jansen behind the plate and George Springer serving as the designated hitter.

Kirk will sit Monday against the Mariners.

Kirk has picked things up at the plate after a slow start, slashing .289/.333/.447 over his last 11 games. He'll head to the bench Monday with Danny Jansen catching for Yusei Kikuchi and Zach Collins serving as the designated hitter.

Kirk went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Guardians.

Kirk led off the seventh inning with his first home run of the season. He has only two extra-base hits across 77 plate appearances to begin the campaign, resulting in a .313 slugging percentage. There are still plenty of things to like in Kirk's profile, however, highlighted by his plate discipline as he's earned nine passes as opposed to striking out only eight times.

Kirk isn't starting Wednesday against the Yankees.

Kirk started in the last four games and went 3-for-13 with a double, a run, a walk and three strikeouts. Tyler Heineman will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Kirk leads Toronto's catchers in playing time with 12 starts through 20 games, but he'll take a seat Friday. for the third time in the past four contests. Tyler Heineman will work behind the plate in his place.

Kirk went 2-for-4 with an RBI during Thursday's 1-0 win over the Red Sox.

The game's only score came in the third inning, with Kirk's two-out single driving in Lourdes Gurriel. Although Kirk has only provided two RBI over his 49 plate appearances, Kirk's best stat is his current league-leading streak of 41 games without a strikeout.

Kirk isn't starting Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Kirk has gone 2-for-12 with two walks in his last five appearances, and he'll retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Tyler Heineman will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.

Kirk will sit Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Kirk finds himself sitting in favor of Zack Collins for the second time in three games. Kirk's .227/.327/.227 season slash line is quite poor, though he's at least seeing the ball very well, striking out just four times to go along with seven walks. He's not hitting the ball with much authority, however, as his barrel rate has dropped from 11.0 percent last season to 2.4 percent this year. He's yet to record an extra-base hit.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

After drawing two straight starts behind the plate, Kirk will cede catching duties to Zack Collins for the series finale. Kirk's dormant bat has began to wake up over his past four games; he's reached base at a .438 clip during that stretch.

Kirk is not in Thursday's lineup against the Red Sox, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

Kirk has been on fire of late, going 7-for-16 with five walks and zero strikeouts over his last six games. Zack Collins will start behind the dish and bat cleanup.

Kirk went 2-for-3 wit ha walk and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Red Sox.

That's now three multi-hit performances in the last five starts for Kirk, who's batting .438 (7-for-16) with a .571 OBP over that stretch thanks to a 5:0 BB:K. The 23-year-old backstop is still looking for his first extra-base hit of the season and has only one RBI and one run scored through 11 contests, but as long as he keeps making contact, Kirk should have a regular spot in the lineup at catcher or DH.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

Kirk has started the past four games (three at catcher one at designated hitter) and will receive a breather for Friday's series opener. He has two multi-hit games this season but is 0-for-13 in the other four games. Zack Collins will work behind the plate in his place.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Kirk served as the designated hitter Opening Day and worked behind the plate Saturday for Toronto, and he'll receive the day off in the series finale. George Spring will serve as the designated hitter Sunday with Raimel Tapia roaming center field, while Danny Jansen starts at catcher.

Kirk could have a clearer path to playing time this season than previously expected, as Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays traded Randal Grichuk to the Rockies for Raimel Tapia and Adrian Pinto on Thursday.

While the Grichuk-for-Tapia part of the deal doesn't reduce the number of MLB-caliber players on the Blue Jays' roster, it's partially a cost-cutting move and not necessarily a straight swap in terms of talent. Grichuk has a better bat than Tapia, with the former's 102 career wRC+ easily besting the latter's career mark of 78. Prior to the trade, Toronto's optimal configuration may have seen Grichuk in the outfield and Teoscar Hernandez at designated hitter, leaving Kirk to fight for playing time behind the plate with Danny Jansen. Now, the best setup may see Hernandez in the outfield, leaving Kirk to serve as the primary DH. He's young and inexperienced but has the talent to fill the role, as he produced a strong 11.0 percent barrel rate and an excellent 11.6 percent strikeout rate in 60 games last season.

Kirk went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Getting the start at DH and hitting fourth, Kirk lifted a Dillon Peters offering over the fence in the left-field corner in the first inning. It was the first homer of the spring for the 23-year-old, giving Kirk an early edge over Danny Jansen in the competition for the Blue Jays' starting catcher job.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

Kirk will take a seat for the third game in a row while he remains in the midst of a cold stretch at the plate. Since his two-homer game against the Yankees on Sept. 7, Kirk is hitting .105 and reaching base at a .227 clip over a stretch of 14 contests. Kirk doesn't provide much value when he's not wielding a hot bat, so he looks like he could finish the season as the No. 2 option at catcher behind the more defensive-minded Danny Jansen.

Kirk will sit Tuesday against the Yankees.

Kirk has suddenly gone quite cold at the plate, hitting just .105/.227/.184 over his last 14 games, though his 6:5 BB:K over that stretch indicates that he's still seeing the ball well. Danny Jansen starts behind the plate Tuesday.

Kirk is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Twins.

Kirk rests after starting consecutive games and going 1-for-6. Danny Jansen starts behind the dish for Sunday's series finale.

Kirk is not starting Friday against the Twins.

Kirk has lost his grasp on the primary catcher job, as he'll sit for the sixth time in eight games Friday. Reese McGuire will catch Jose Berrios and bat ninth.

Kirk is out of the lineup again Thursday.

The catcher will sit for the second consecutive contest Thursday. Over his last 11 games, Kirk has batted .094 with only one home run and two RBI in 32 at-bats. Danny Jansen will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Kirk will get a breather for the matinee game after catching both of the first two contests of the series while going hitless across seven at-bats. Reese McGuire will replace Kirk behind the plate.

Kirk will start at catcher and bat sixth Monday against the Rays.

Kirk was on the bench for each of the past three games, but he'll step back in behind the dish to catch Cy Young candidate Robbie Ray in Monday's series opener. Though Kirk remains Toronto's top hitting catcher, Danny Jansen's superior defense may make him the more useful asset for a Blue Jays lineup that already boasts plenty of quality bats. Expect the two to remain part of a timeshare the rest of the way.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.

Kirk has a .983 OPS through 12 games in September but finds himself on the bench for the third consecutive contest. Danny Jansen starts Sunday and also worked behind the plate Friday, while Reese McGuire received the nod for Saturday's game.

Kirk remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Twins.

The bat-first backstop owns a strong .823 OPS on the season, but he's hit just .125/.250/.250 across his last seven games. He sat in favor of Danny Jansen on Friday and will remain on the bench Saturday, with Reese McGuire taking over behind the plate.

Kirk is out of the lineup Friday against the Twins.

Kirk is 3-for-23 in his past six games and will head to the bench Friday. Danny Jansen will take over behind the plate for the Blue Jays.

Kirk will sit Tuesday against Tampa Bay.

Kirk has been very impressive at the plate recently, going 9-for-27 with four homers and just three strikeouts over his last seven games, but he'll continue to receive frequent days off like most catchers. Reese McGuire takes over behind the plate Tuesday, catching Jose Berrios.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Kirk gets the afternoon off after catching seven innings Saturday night, a game in which he went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a walk. Danny Jansen is catching and batting seventh Sunday.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

Danny Jansen will start at catcher and bat ninth in the matinee. Look for Kirk to be back in the mix for the nightcap.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs and a third run scored in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Yankees.

The 22-year-old got the start at DH while Reese McGuire handled catching duties and Kirk embraced the 'hitter' part of his job description, taking Gerrit Cole the other way in the second inning before capping the scoring in the eighth with a blast off Clay Holmes. Remarkably, even though Kirk has only seven homers on the year, this was his second multi-homer performance, with the other coming April 30 against Atlanta. On the season, the young backstop is slashing .290/.362/.524 through 45 games, and the Jays will likely continue to find ways to get his bat in the lineup as they push for a playoff spot.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

Kirk and Danny Jansen clearly appear to be ahead of the Blue Jays' depth chart at catcher ahead of No. 3 option Reese McGuire, who hasn't started since Aug. 29. Meanwhile, Kirk has caught four games since that time, while Jansen will draw his third start at catcher Monday. Look for Kirk and Jansen to remain in a rough timeshare for most of September, though the job battle could tilt more in Kirk's direction if he continues to thrive at the dish.

Kirk went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double and two total runs scored in Sunday's 8-0 win over Oakland.

This was the catcher's first multi-hit effort in his last eight games, and he hit just .192 (5-for-26) in that span. Kirk solidified Toronto's lead with his third-inning blast, which was his fifth homer in 44 contests this year. He's added 20 RBI, 14 runs scored, eight doubles and a .275/.350/.467 slash line across 137 plate appearances.

Kirk will start at catcher and bat sixth Wednesday against the Orioles.

Kirk was on the bench for Tuesday's 4-2 loss, which coincided with Danny Jansen (hamstring) making his return from the 10-day injured list. Though Jansen is the top defender among the three catchers on Toronto's active roster, his underwhelming .635 OPS means he likely won't dominate the playing time behind the plate in September. Look for Kirk and Reese McGuire to remain part of a timeshare at catcher with Jansen until one of the three clearly separates himself from the others in the competition for at-bats.

Kirk went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Tigers.

He took Tyler Alexander deep in the sixth inning for the game's first run. Kirk has started six of the last nine games, slashing .318/.360/.545 in 25 plate appearances over that stretch, but Saturday's homer was only his fourth of the year and first since April 30.

Kirk isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

Kirk will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games as he continues to split time behind the dish. Reese McGuire will start at catcher and bat eighth, and at least for the time being, he may have emerged as the Jays' preferred option over Kirk.

Kirk is not starting Tuesday against the Nationals.

Kirk will take a seat for the second time in three games as Reese McGuire catches Alek Manoah and bats eighth. Kirk has received a relatively even split of the catching duties with McGuire since rejoining the big-league roster in late July, and that seems likely to be the case going forward.

Kirk went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Mariners.

Picking up his fourth start in six games, Kirk provided a big two-out, extra-base hit in the third inning to help the Blue Jays dig out of an early 1-0 hole. Given his recent workload, Kirk appears to have moved ahead of Reese McGuire as Option 1A behind the plate for Toronto.

Kirk will sit Saturday against Seattle.

Kirk has hit .294/.342/.382 in 11 games since returning to the roster in late June. Reese McGuire will start behind the plate in his absence.

Kirk isn't starting Wednesday's game against Cleveland.

Kirk has recorded hits in each of his last three appearances, but he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Reese McGuire will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Kirk is not starting Tuesday's game against Cleveland.

Kirk went 1-for-4 with a double and three strikeouts Monday. In six games since rejoining the Blue Jays, he's gone 6-for-19 with two doubles, one walk and no RBI. Reese McGuire will catch and bat ninth Tuesday.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Kirk will get a breather after he caught both of the Blue Jays' past two games, during which he went 2-for-5 with a walk and a run. Reese McGuire will be behind the dish in the series finale.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Kirk will take a seat for the series finale, allowing Reese McGuire to pick up a start behind the plate. The two backstops have been working in a timeshare since Kirk was called up from Triple-A Buffalo, and that arrangement will likely remain in place until of the two catchers performs dramatically better than the other.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox.

Kirk started at catcher and went 0-for-3 in the matinee, and it's no surprise he won't be starting both games of the twin bill. Reese McGuire will work behind the plate and bat ninth in the nightcap.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

Kirk and Reese McGuire have alternated starts behind the dish since Kirk joined the roster Friday. McGuire will take his turn Monday, but Kirk has gone 3-for-7 with a double in the two games since his return, raising his season OPS to .829 through 19 games, so he's likely to keep earning opportunities.

Kirk is not starting Saturday's game against the Mets.

The 22-year-old was recalled from Triple-A on Friday and went 1-for-3 in his first MLB game since May 1. He takes a seat Saturday, with Reese McGuire starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Kirk was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk was activated from the injured list Tuesday and optioned to Triple-A, but he'll quickly rejoin the major-league roster for Toronto. Reese McGuire has a .671 OPS for the season and is 4-for-31 in his past 10 games, so Kirk should have the chance to secure the starting role behind the plate. Per Hazel Mae of Sportsnet, he'll start at catcher Friday versus the Mets. Danny Jansen (hamstring) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move.

Kirk (hip) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday and optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

Kirk began a rehab assignment with Buffalo in late June, and has gone 11-for-45 with a homer, two doubles and six RBI. With Reese McGuire and Danny Jansen currently handling the big-league catching duties, Kirk will remain in Triple-A for the time being.

Manager Charlie Montoyo said Tuesday that Kirk (hip) is "100 percent healthy" but will remain on his rehab assignment for now, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk had been dealing with left hip flexor discomfort since the start of May, and he's gone 5-for-13 with a home run, a double, four runs, three RBI and four walks across five rehab games at Triple-A Buffalo. The catcher will remain on the 60-day injured list for now to get some extra plate appearances in the minors, but he should be available to return to the Blue Jays in the near future.

Kirk (hip) will need to appear in a few more rehab games before he's cleared to return from the injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk has appeared in two rehab games with Triple-A Buffalo, and he's gone 2-for-5 with a double, two runs, two RBI and three walks. The Blue Jays aren't in need of immediate help at catcher after Danny Jansen (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, so Kirk will have several more games to work in the minors before he rejoins the big-league club.

Kirk (hip) has joined Triple-A Buffalo for a rehab assignment, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk has been playing in games at extended spring training recently, but he'll likely progress to minor-league game action in the near future. The Blue Jays haven't yet indicated when the catcher could return to the major-league roster, but he's eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list as early as July 1.

Kirk (hip) will serve as the designated hitter in a game at extended spring training Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

The 22-year-old has been on the shelf since early May with strained left hip flexor, but he's progressing to the final stages of his rehab work. Kirk is on the 60-day injured list and isn't eligible to be activated until early July, and he could return when first eligible if he's able to begin a rehab assignment within the next few weeks.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Wednesday that Kirk (hip) has resumed throwing and hitting off a tee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The activity marks a step in the right direction for Kirk, but after being placed on the 60-day injured list over the weekend, he'll be facing a lengthy recovery process. If all goes well in Kirk's rehab program and he avoids any setbacks, he'll be ready to rejoin Toronto shortly before the All-Star break.

Kirk (hip) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

General manager Ross Atkins indicated Thursday that Kirk could return in approximately four weeks, but the catcher will be out until at least July due to his strained left hip flexor. Danny Jansen should continue to serve as the primary catcher with Reese McGuire available as a depth option.

Kirk (hip) is expected to return in four weeks, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Previous reports indicated that Kirk could miss as much as six weeks with his strained left hip flexor, but it looks as though his timeline has been revised to be slightly more optimistic. The young catcher's injury was poorly timed, as he was just starting to heat up at the plate, going 5-for-13 with a pair of homers in his last five games after hitting just .148 in his first 12 contests.

Kirk (hip) is expected to miss significant time due to his injury, Ben Wagner of Sportsnet reports.

Kirk was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hip flexor strain Sunday, and he's expected to miss at least six weeks. Riley Adams was recalled by the Blue Jays on Sunday and should serve as the No. 2 option at catcher behind Danny Jansen.

The Blue Jays will place Kirk (hip) on the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against Atlanta, Ben Wagner of Sportsnet reports.

The transaction will clear a spot on the 26-man roster for Ross Stripling (forearm), who will be reinstated from the IL ahead of his scheduled start Sunday. Before exiting Saturday's game with left hip flexor discomfort, Kirk had been off to a slow start to the 2021 season, slashing .225/.326/.475 in 46 plate appearances while serving as the No. 2 option at catcher behind Danny Jansen.

Kirk was removed from Saturday's game against the Braves with left hip flexor discomfort.

The 22-year-old went 0-for-1 with a walk and a run before exiting the contest. The severity of the injury remains unclear, but Kirk figures to take a seat for the series finale Sunday afternoon.

Kirk went 2-for-4 with a walk, two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI in Friday's 13-5 win over Atlanta.

The rookie catcher isn't noted for his power, but he took Drew Smyly deep in the fourth inning and pounded an Edgar Santana over the fence in the fifth for the first multi-homer game of his young career. Kirk heads into May hitting only .231 with three home runs and eight RBI in 16 games, but if his bat continues to heat up, the starting job behind the plate is there for the taking in Toronto.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Kirk was included in the lineup in each of the past four games, making two starts at designated hitter and two at catcher. Cavan Biggio's three-game absence due to a hand injury helped Kirk pick up some extra playing time, but the 22-year-old's path to an everyday role will ultimately hinge on the Blue Jays' comfort with him behind the dish. The Blue Jays' No. 1 catcher, Danny Jansen, is slashing .065/.147/.097 through 34 plate appearances this season, making it increasingly difficult for Toronto to trot him out on a regular basis.

Kirk went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Yankees.

The 22-year-old was hitless in 13 at-bats through his first six appearances of the season, but he finally connected Wednesday for his second home run of his career. Kirk has received five starts in Toronto's first 12 games of the year and may need to improve at the plate to maintain that level of playing time, though fellow catcher Danny Jansen has struggled similarly (2-for-22) to open 2021.

Kirk was informed Sunday that he would be part of the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

After mashing over his nine games with the Blue Jays as a rookie late in the 2020 season, Kirk hasn't cooled off so far this spring, posting a .917 OPS in 24 at-bats. While Danny Jansen's superior defense should keep him locked in as the Blue Jays' top catcher to begin 2021, Toronto likely wouldn't have carried the 22-year-old Kirk on the Opening Day roster if he wasn't in line for a fair share of at-bats. It's reasonable to expect a 60-40 percent split of the playing time at catcher between Jansen and Kirk, with the latter perhaps occasionally factoring into the mix at designated hitter, as well. That should be enough to make Kirk a draftable option in AL-only leagues and deeper mixed leagues that start two catchers.

Kirk picked up two more hits in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, including a single that left his bat with an exit velocity of 110.3 mph, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The young catcher is 5-for-10 to begin the spring with a home run and a 1:1 BB:K. On talent alone, Kirk would be considered the favorite to win the No. 2 job behind Danny Jansen to begin the season, but complicating the picture for the Jays is that Reese McGuire is out of minor-league options. As a result, Kirk could begin the season at Triple-A regardless of how he looks this spring if the organization doesn't want to risk losing McGuire on waivers.

Kirk could serve as the Blue Jays' backup catcher while continuing his development, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kirk jumped straight from High-A to the majors last season and hit an impressive .375/.400/.583, though that came in just 25 trips to the plate. There's a case to be made that he's already Toronto's top offensive backstop, but Danny Jansen is a better defender and is expected to open the season as the starter. The question for Toronto is whether or not Kirk should play on a regular basis in the minors or appear more infrequently at the big-league level. The Blue Jays want to develop his durability, as he's never played more than 92 games in a season in the minors, but they also appear to be looking to win now, and Kirk would likely help more than Reese McGuire in that regard.

Kirk is out of the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the Blue Jays' wild-card series with the Rays.

With Vladimir Guerrero serving as the team's designated hitter Wednesday and Danny Jansen starting behind the plate, Kirk will be squeezed out of the lineup. The rookie was the DH in Tuesday's 3-1 loss, going 1-for-3 with a base hit.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

Though he'll take a seat Wednesday, Kirk may have inched ahead of Danny Jansen as the Blue Jays' preferred backstop. The rookie made a splash while starting behind the dish in the first two games of the series, going 5-for-7 with a home run and a double. Jansen, meanwhile, has two extra-base hits in his last 16 games combined.

Kirk went 4-for-4 with a solo home run, double and three runs scored in Monday's 11-5 win over the Yankees.

After going 2-for-10 to start his major-league career, the backstop broke out in a big way Monday. He singled and scored in the third, doubled and scored in the fourth and capped his night off with his first big-league long ball in the seventh. Kirk has shared time with Danny Jansen at catcher since being promoted Sept. 11, but could be in line for a larger portion of the at-bats if he can build off Monday's performance.

Kirk's contract was selected by the Blue Jays on Friday.

Kirk is an interesting prospect, with an above-average arm and the potential to hit for high average, though he's making quite the jump, as he's yet to play above High-A. He produced a strong .288/.395/.446 slash line with more walks than strikeouts in 71 games at that level last season, though a significant regression should be expected given that he's skipping two levels. The Blue Jays have gotten very little at the plate from their catchers this season, however, with Danny Jansen producing a .603 OPS and Reese McGuire posting a .220 OPS, so he won't have to look all that good to earn playing time.