Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk Update Emerges After 36 Missed Games
The Toronto Blue Jays are in a difficult spot right now. Sitting at 18-22 and third in the AL East, they trail the New York Yankees by 8.5 games. The Blue Jays have faltered partly due to an offense that has been operating shorthanded for most of the season. And among the many reasons for Toronto's offensive struggles, none has been more impactful than the absence of Alejandro Kirk.
In just the fourth game of the season, Kirk caught a foul tip off the edge of his glove hand during the 10th inning of a loss to the Chicago White Sox, immediately dropping his glove and walking off the field with trainers. 
The Blue Jays confirmed the next day that Kirk had fractured and dislocated his left thumb, with surgery required to repair the damage. He underwent surgery to have a screw inserted into the fractured thumb shortly after, with an initial six-week recovery timeline placing his return somewhere around mid-May.
Kirk has since begun a throwing program at the Blue Jays' complex in Florida, with manager John Schneider confirming that he is right on schedule in his recovery process. On Friday, MLB.com's Keegan Matheson reported that Kirk has begun taking dry swings as he continues to build back toward full activity.
By Monday, Blue Jays fans received another positive update, per SportsNet's Arden Zwelling:
"Alejandro Kirk (thumb) began a hitting progression over the weekend at Blue Jays complex in Dunedin - starts with swinging off a tee and taking flips," Zwelling reported. "He's been throwing regularly for a while but hasn't caught yet."
Alejandro Kirk (thumb) began a hitting progression over the weekend at Blue Jays complex in Dunedin - starts with swinging off a tee and taking flips.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) May 11, 2026
He's been throwing regularly for a while but hasn't caught yet.
The latest milestone is a small but encouraging development for a franchise that has been waiting on its most important bat since the season's first week.
The significance of getting him back cannot be understated. A career .267/.343/.398 hitter with a 108 OPS+ across parts of seven seasons, Kirk earned his second All-Star selection last year and is one of baseball's elite framers behind the plate.
Rookie Brandon Valenzuela has filled in admirably since his MLB debut in early April, hitting three home runs in high-pressure situations and drawing praise for his throwing accuracy. But Kirk returning at full health raises this roster's ceiling considerably.
While he continues to make progress, Toronto will return to action on Monday to open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre.
Related: Blue Jays, John Schneider Dealt Unfortunate News Before Rays Game
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 5:03 PM.