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“I had an idea,” Kirk said before Sunday’s game about getting his second all-star nod, “but I didn’t want to get too emotional until I knew it was official.”

The 26-year-old Kirk was an all-star starter in 2022 and caught teammate Alek Manoah聽(who struck聽out the side in the second inning) among others.

Kirk struggled at the plate the next two seasons, hitting .251 with a below-average .685 OPS and just 13 home runs in total after a career-high 14 in ‘22. He’s rebounded in a big way this season.

“I consider myself a complete hitter right now,” said Kirk. “In prior years, I was just trying to maybe hit homers. I don’t consider myself a home run hitter, so this year (I’m) trying to hit the ball the other way, trying to get the runners in and find a way to help the team win.”

He’s also become one of the best defensive catchers, ranking third in the major leagues in fielding run value (for all positions) and leading the majors in blocking and framing, while third in caught stealing above average.

Luis Hurtado, now the Jays’ bullpen catcher/coach, has been working with Kirk ever since he was his manager in the low minors.

“He’s really, really dedicated to his routines,” said Hurtado. “He’s really smart. He works hard. Right now, we’re seeing the results of all the hard work he’s been putting in. This off-season, he was back in Florida with me on Nov. 15. We were working on defence, he was hitting, we were doing a lot of stuff.”

The hard work has paid off. Kirk’s 1-for-3 Sunday upped his average to .301 - ninth in the majors when the game ended. And that defence.

Kirk and Guerrero are the Jays’ only all-star representatives for now, but there’s a good chance George Springer gets the call should any outfielder decline the invite.