#defensive-catching

#defensive-catching

Kirk's resurgence was a big reason the 2025 Blue Jays finished where they did. In 506 plate appearances, Kirk slashed .282/.348/.421 with 15 home runs, with a 9.5 BB% and 11.7 K%. While his 116 wRC+ wasn't as good as the 129 wRC+ he posted in 2022, Kirk hit a career-best 15 home runs and finished with a career-high 4.7 fWAR.

Shortly after winning his first Gold Glove Award following the 2024 season, Bailey outlined his ambitions to Alex Burg. Bailey told Burg that one award wasn't enough. Neither was two. Neither was five. The conversion was, This isn't about winning one, it's about winning 10. It's about being, when you finish, being one of the best defensive catchers ever,' said Burg, the Giants' catching coach over the last two seasons and a candidate for new manager Tony Vitello's staff.