Blue Jays: Who is the real Alejandro Kirk?

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Ben Wrixon | Last updated Jan 31, 2026 9:00 AM ET

Alejandro Kirk made his second All-Star appearance in 2025 following two consecutive down years at the plate. His offensive resurgence and continued defensive excellence behind the plate were at the heart of the Blue Jays’ worst-to-first turnaround.

If the Blue Jays are going to compete for another AL East title in 2026, they’ll need Kirk to be who he was last year — but is that actually who he is as a player?

One thing is for certain: Kirk is an excellent defender. He ranked in the 100th and 98th percentile last season for blocks above average and pitch framing, respectively. He’s accumulated at least 10 fielding run value each of the past four seasons. Few catchers play the position or manage a pitching staff better than he does.

Things are less definitive in the batter’s box. Kirk hit well in 2025, putting up career highs in home runs (15) and RBIs (76) while striking out just 11.7% of the time. He hit the ball with more authority than ever, as evidenced by his career-best 50.8% hard-hit rate.

ALEJANDRO KIRK, GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/g6VMgrJCK6

— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2025

What’s concerning is that Kirk isn’t far removed from being a below-average hitter. He put up an OPS below .700 in 2023 and 2024 with a combined wRC+ of 94 during that stretch. Those mediocre numbers paired with his defense still equate to a useful player, but hardly one that belongs in the conversation for the league’s best catcher.

The good news for Kirk and the Blue Jays is that his batted ball distribution suggests he made meaningful changes in 2025. His 37.2% fly ball rate was his highest ever in a full season, while his soft-contact rate was the lowest it’s ever been. Hitting more fly balls with authority and fewer weak ground balls is a surefire way to improve production.

Even more encouraging are the gains Kirk made in bat speed. His 72.5 mph average in 2025 represented a significant improvement from his 70.1 mph average in the previous year. He shouldn’t experience any regression here as a 27-year-old entering his prime.

All signs point to Kirk being an above-average hitter again in 2026. That, coupled with arguably the best defense in the league at the catcher position, has him well-positioned to be one of the Blue Jays’ most impactful players for years to come.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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