MLB Makes Alejandro Kirk Announcement on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Jan 15, 2026 12:34 PM ET

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk has had a successful career in Major League Baseball to this point. In six years in the majors, Kirk has hit .268 with a .743 OPS, totaling 51 home runs and 263 RBIs in 564 games.

The 27-year-old Tijuana, Mexico, native has made two All-Star Game appearances and won a Silver Slugger award in his career.

Kirk is coming off a phenomenal season with the Blue Jays, helping them to an American League pennant and their first World Series appearance since 1993. He played 130 games in the regular season, batting .282 with an OPS of .769, 15 homers and 76 RBIs.

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) hits a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers.© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The postseason was when Kirk really turned it on. He started all 18 games behind the plate for Toronto in the playoffs, hitting .254 with an .842 OPS, five long balls and 13 runs driven in. He helped the Blue Jays secure their first American League title in over three decades but ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games in the Fall Classic.

On Thursday, the MLB X account shared Nos. 71-80 in MLB Network's top 100 players heading into the 2026 season, and Kirk was ranked at No. 74.

"Two southpaws in Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez rank back-to-back as @MLBNetwork’s #Top100RightNow rolls on," the caption read.

Two southpaws in Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez rank back-to-back as @MLBNetwork’s #Top100RightNow rolls on. pic.twitter.com/6tWGOk5PYg
— MLB (@MLB) January 15, 2026

Kirk was the second Blue Jays player to be named thus far, with newly signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease coming in at No. 100 on the list.

The 2026 season will be Kirk's seventh in a Toronto uniform and the first of a five-year, $58 million contract extension he signed with the Blue Jays.

MLB Network will share Nos. 60-41 of its top 100 list on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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