Alejandro Kirk returned to game action Wednesday with a rehab assignment for single-A Dunedin, going 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk. The Toronto Blue Jays catcher is working his way back after fracturing his thumb in early April, and he’s expected to catch
Alejandro Kirk didn’t wait long to make contact again.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Blue Jays backstop began his rehab assignment with single-A Dunedin and looked like he hadn’t missed much. Kirk went 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk as he returned to game action for the first time.
Batting third and serving as Dunedin’s designated hitter, Kirk took a five-pitch walk in the first inning. In the third. he led off with his next plate appearance and turned a 3-2 slider into a solo homer. lining it over the wall in right field. His final time up ended with a groundout to second base.
Kirk’s night still had one more roster detail attached to it: in the seventh inning, he was pinch-hit for by Canadian Blue Jays prospect Sam Shaw.
On the mound, Yimi García also appeared for Dunedin in the same game, pitching a scoreless inning. García struck out and walked one while working his way through the frame. The reliever. who has been out since late in the 2025 season after undergoing elbow surgery. threw 14 pitches and averaged 94.2 m.p.h. with his fastball. It was his third rehab appearance of the year, following outings pitching for the FCL Blue Jays on May 7 and 29.
Kirk’s rehab is a return after an injury that has kept him out since early April. He fractured his thumb in a game against the Chicago White Sox. Before going down, he hit .150/.227/.350 with one home run through his first five games of the season.
The timing matters because Kirk comes off a massive individual season. The seven-year MLB veteran was named an all-star for the second time in his career in 2025, posting a .769 OPS and hitting 15 homers in 130 games.
For Dunedin, Wednesday’s work was only the beginning. Kirk is expected to catch on Thursday, take a day off on Friday, and then play through the weekend with Dunedin.
Alejandro Kirk Toronto Blue Jays Dunedin MLB rehab assignment Yimi García FCL Blue Jays thumb fracture Chicago White Sox 2025 all-star
Thumb fractures always take forever it’s wild he’s already back.
He hit a homer and a walk and they’re still calling it rehab?? Like what is he rehabbing, the confidence lol. Hope he’s actually okay.
So wait he got hurt in April vs the White Sox but now he’s in Single-A like that’s normal?? I thought rehab meant like rehab in the minors, not just straight up playing. Also Sam Shaw pinch hit for him? Doesn’t sound like he’s truly coming back if they’re already swapping him.
94.2 mph after elbow surgery in 2025 and he’s pitching rehab already… that seems fast. Meanwhile Kirk’s thumb fracture—honestly I can’t believe they let him bat at all. I’m just hoping he doesn’t re-break it trying to swing through everything.