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Kirk isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Kirk will grab a seat on the bench Saturday after going 0-for-4 with a couple of strikeouts during Friday's loss. Brandon Valenzuela will fill in as Toronto's catcher and bat fourth.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Getting breather Thursday
Rotowire
Kirk is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Boston.
Kirk started behind the dish each of the last three games, so he will get some rest during Thursday's matinee. Brandon Valenzuela will start at catcher and bat eighth as the Blue Jays look to complete the series sweep.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Idle Saturday
Rotowire
Kirk isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.
Kirk went 3-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored during his first game back from the IL on Friday, and he'll now retreat to the bench as the Jays look to ease him back into regular playing time. Brandon Valenzuela will fill in behind the plate and bat sixth.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Three hits in return
Rotowire
Kirk went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and one run scored in Friday's win over the Yankees.
Kirk returned from a two-month absence Friday and made an immediate contribution with an RBI double during the first inning before delivering another run-scoring knock in the fifth. The 27-year-old has now played in six games this season and is batting .261 (6-for-23) with two doubles, a homer, four RBI and three runs.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Kirk (thumb) from the 60-day injured list Friday.
A broken left thumb sent Kirk to the injured list just five games into the season, but he's ready to rejoin the Blue Jays after fully recovering from surgery to repair the fracture. The 27-year-old went 3-for-18 with a homer and a double during his six-game rehab assignment and should immediately reclaim the starting job behind the plate for Toronto. Brandon Valenzuela will fill the backup job with Tyler Heineman being designated for assignment as part of Friday's transactions.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Could return Friday
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Kirk (thumb) could be available to return from the 60-day injured list as soon as Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Kirk is nearing the finish line of a long recovery from left thumb surgery, which has kept him on the shelf since April 4. The 27-year-old began a rehab assignment last week at Single-A Dunedin, making two starts at designated hitter and one at catcher while going 2-for-9 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run. He'll get a couple days of rest before shifting his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, when he's expected to serve as a designated hitter. Schneider added that Kirk is then in line to start at catcher for Buffalo on Wednesday, and if all goes well, the two-time All-Star will rejoin the Blue Jays for Friday's series opener versus the Yankees.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Could return early next week
Rotowire
Kirk (thumb) could be activated from the injured list early next week, with Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicating the catcher would need about 20 at-bats on his rehab assignment before being ready to rejoin the lineup, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Kirk will begin his rehab stint at Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday, and depending on whether he's allowed to play on consecutive days right away, he could have time to get in 20 at-bats by the weekend. The organization might elect to be a little more cautious with the 27-year-old given that he last saw big-league action April 3, but with the Jays sliding in the standings and looking for a spark, they'll want their starting backstop back in the lineup as soon as possible. Tyler Heineman and Brandon Valenzuela will continue holding down the fort behind the plate until Kirk is cleared to return.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Beginning rehab assignment as DH
Rotowire
Kirk (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Kirk will serve as the designated hitter when he begins his rehab assignment. The 27-year-old cleared the final steps in his recovery needed to begin the assignment by catching a live batting practice session and facing live pitching. He still needs plenty of playing time before he returns to Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Hitting on field
Rotowire
Kirk (thumb) has been taking on-field batting practice and is expected to begin hitting off a high-velocity pitching machine in the coming days, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Kirk has been sidelined since April 4 and is currently on the 60-day IL. He's probably still at least a week away from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, so the backstop doesn't seem likely to be activated until mid-June, at the earliest. Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman have been handling catching duties for the Blue Jays while Kirk has been out of action.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Eyeing rehab games late next week
Rotowire
Kirk (thumb) is aiming to start hitting off a pitching machine this weekend before beginning a rehab assignment by the start of the Blue Jays' June 5-14 homestand, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Kirk has been catching bullpen sessions and taking live batting practice at the club's spring training complex in Florida, and game action is just around the corner. Assuming he's able to kick off a rehab assignment at the start of the Blue Jays' next homestand, he should be activated by mid-June. Kirk has been shelved since early April after having surgery to repair a fractured left thumb.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Moves to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays transferred Kirk (thumb) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
Kirk has been on the shelf since April 4 while recovering from left thumb surgery and isn't expected to head out on a rehab assignment until next weekend at the soonest, so his placement on the 60-day IL won't affect his timeline to rejoin the Blue Jays. The transaction will clear up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Austin Voth, who had his contract selected Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Could begin rehab stint next week
Rotowire
Kirk (thumb) will be evaluated by the Blue Jays training staff this weekend as he prepares to take the next step in his rehab, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The backstop has been catching bullpens and taking live BP at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin. Assuming Kirk's surgically repaired thumb checks out OK, he could be cleared for a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since April 3, and his return to the big-league lineup appears to be drawing close. Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman will continue to split duties behind the plate until Kirk is activated from the IL.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Not ready to take full BP yet
Rotowire
Kirk has not been cleared to take full batting practice yet because he still feels a bit of soreness in his surgically repaired left thumb while hitting, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Kirk is performing all other baseball activities, and by the end of this week, the Blue Jays expect to have a better idea of when the catcher will be ready for a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old is six weeks removed from surgery to have a screw inserted into his fractured left thumb. Whether Kirk can make it back before the end of May is starting to shape up as an uncertain proposition.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Set to begin hitting this weekend
Rotowire
Kirk (thumb) is expected to begin hitting this weekend, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
The backstop has been sidelined since April 3 due to a fractured thumb that required surgery, but Kirk's recovery is proceeding without setbacks and the Blue Jays remain optimistic he'll be back before the end of May. In his absence, Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman will continue to split catching duties.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Begins throwing
Rotowire
Kirk (thumb) has begun a throwing program at the Blue Jays' complex in Florida, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Kirk has spent the past several weeks recovering from a procedure he underwent in early April to repair his fractured left thumb. He was given a six-week return timeline following the operation, which would put him in line to be activated sometime around mid-May, though an updated estimate will likely emerge as he continues to check off boxes in his rehab program.
Heineman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
After a recent bout with back spasms, Heineman returned to the lineup Thursday and started three straight games, going 1-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored. Though Brandon Valenzuela will get the nod behind the plate Sunday, Heineman could be the Blue Jays' preferred option at catcher until Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is ready to return from the injured list.
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Facing six-week absence
Rotowire
Kirk underwent surgery Tuesday to have a screw inserted into his fractured left thumb and is expected to be sidelined about six weeks, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Kirk sustained the injury Friday when he was struck in the thumb by a foul tip, and the Blue Jays didn't waste any time placing him on the injured list. The 27-year-old should be able to rejoin the active roster in mid-May, assuming his recovery progresses as expected. Tyler Heineman and Brandon Valenzuela will handle the catching duties for Toronto in the meantime.
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