Blue Jays: Who is the real Alejandro Kirk?

"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. 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."

Alejandro Kirk delivered an All-Star season in 2025 after two down years, combining offensive gains with elite defensive performance. He ranked in the 100th and 98th percentiles for blocks above average and pitch framing, accumulating at least 10 fielding run value each of the past four seasons. Offensively, Kirk posted career highs in home runs (15) and RBIs (76) with a 50.8% hard-hit rate and just an 11.7% strikeout rate. Prior OPS below .700 in 2023–24 and a combined wRC+ of 94 raise questions about sustainability. Improved fly ball rate and lower soft-contact rate signal meaningful changes that could support continued improvement.

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