Kirk set – Alejandro Kirk is closing in on a return to the Toronto Blue Jays after a thumb injury sidelined him since April, with manager John Schneider saying the best-case scenario is a Friday return against the New York Yankees. Kirk is slated to play designated hitte
The Toronto Blue Jays have been living without Alejandro Kirk’s steadiness behind the plate since April, and now manager John Schneider says that picture of health is starting to come into focus.
Kirk, who suffered a thumb injury in April, is nearing a return to the Blue Jays’ lineup and could be back this week if everything goes the right way. Schneider said Monday that the best-case scenario would be a Friday return against the New York Yankees.
The next step is specific. Kirk is set to line up at designated hitter at triple-A on Tuesday. After that, Schneider said Kirk could play catcher in the coming days, bringing him closer to the role he’s used for much of his major-league career.
The injury itself came early in the season. Kirk fractured his thumb in an April game against the Chicago White Sox. Before the injury ended his run, he posted a .150/.227/.350 slash line with one home run through his first five games of the season.
Recovery has been measured, but not without momentum. In three games with single-A Dunedin on a rehab assignment. the 27-year-old has batted .222 while posting a .920 OPS and has hit a home run in his first game back in action. During those appearances, he had one start at catcher and two starts at designated hitter.
Schneider’s schedule for the week gives Kirk a clear path back: DH work at triple-A on Tuesday, catcher reps soon after, and—if the return holds up—an opportunity to make an impact quickly, with the Yankees standing in the way on Friday.
Even with the uncertainty that always comes with a healing thumb, the stakes feel obvious for Toronto. The last time Kirk was healthy in the majors, he delivered one of his most productive seasons in 2025, batting .282 with a .769 OPS and 15 home runs over 130 games.
For now, it’s a rehab timetable and a manager’s cautious optimism: line up at triple-A Tuesday, catch in the days after, and aim for Friday against New York.
Alejandro Kirk Toronto Blue Jays John Schneider New York Yankees thumb injury triple-A Dunedin rehab assignment MLB