Alejandro Kirk got to the major leagues because of his bat, but it’s the defence that has turned him into one of baseball’s most valuable catchers.
When Kirk made his big-league debut in 2020, he was considered a liability behind the plate. He started just seven games at catcher and when the Blue Jays advanced to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the playoffs, his lone appearance came as a designated hitter.
Scouts loved Kirk’s offensive upside with a tendency to make a lot of contact and hit for a high average. It was his ability to handle a pitching staff and control the running game that figured to be a problem. For a time it was, just not anymore.
“The thing with catching is you have to be accurate for things to happen, and he’s checked that off as well as improving his arm strength,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider, a former minor-league catcher.
“He’s doing a good job of understanding what he’s good at and using his skills accordingly. I’ve been really impressed with his throwing. It’s not as easy as sometimes he makes it look like.”
A couple of years ago, the Jays were one of the worst teams at holding baserunners. They allowed the sixth-most stolen bases and threw out just 17 per cent of steal attempts. The tandem of Kirk and Danny Jansen had the fifth-worst arm strength at 77.3 m.p.h. and tied for 21st in exchange time (how long it takes for the catcher to release the ball after he receives it).
Opponents essentially did whatever they wanted after reaching base. The following spring, the Jays made it a point of emphasis for pitchers to do a better job at holding runners. Kirk spent the off-season trying to build up his arm strength and accuracy.
The attention to detail became evident almost right away. Kirk was ranked 26th with zero caught steals above average in 2023, before soaring to third with eight in 2024. This year, he’s sitting third again in that metric with .
Kirk’s numbers ticked up even though his natural abilities remained stable. Two years ago, he was 52nd in the majors with an average of 76.8 m.p.h. on throws. This season, he’s at 79.3 m.p.h., but even that is only good enough for 34th. His exchange time of 0.63 seconds isn’t anything to get excited about, either, tied for 46th.
It’s the accuracy that has improved the most. Kirk has thrown out 30 per cent of stolen base attempts this year and, combined with elite pitch framing and blocking, his fielding run value is in the 98th percentile of the league, .
A perfect example of Kirk’s improvement occurred last week against the Rays. Speedy outfielder Chandler Simpson, who had 104 combined steals at Class-A and Double-A last year, reached base in Wednesday’s game and was promptly thrown out by Kirk. It was just the second time Simpson had been caught stealing at the big-league level. Kirk was quick to deflect praise.
“It was a special moment for me, but like I always say, it’s teamwork,” Kirk said through an interpreter when asked about throwing out Simpson. “I have to give it to (starting pitcher Chris) Bassitt. He does a good job holding the runners. He did his part, and that allowed me to throw him out.”
Kirk has been performing with the bat lately, too. He started slowly, but his numbers spiked in May. Over his last 13 games, Kirk is batting .375 with two extra-base hits, eight RBIs and an .846 on-base plus slugging percentage. Among catchers, he’s tied for 10th with 1.0 win above replacement (FanGraphs).
Last week, a three-run homer by Kirk was the only reason the Jays avoided being swept by the Rays. On Saturday, his pinch-hit single in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers tied the game before Ernie Clement secured the walk-off win an inning later.
Kirk’s .692 OPS is still below the league average of .711, but he has been trending in the right direction for a while. The overall production helps justify the five-year extension worth $58 million (U.S.)Â that he signed in March.
“That position is so physically and mentally demanding, and I think one of his best traits is that he’s just right here in a lot of moments; he doesn’t get high or low,” Schneider said.Â
“It’s hard to digest a game plan. It’s hard to catch Chris Bassitt. It’s hard to block Brendon Little’s curveball and it’s hard to go hit. He’s doing all that. Sign of a guy maturing and getting a little bit older, too.”
The 22-24 Jays — with the San Diego Padres in town starting Tuesday — have experienced more than their fair share of problems this season, but with the way Kirk has been performing, the catcher’s spot isn’t one of them. With a bit of luck, it might stay that way for the next five years.
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