Blue Jays place catcher Alejandro Kirk on injured list with fractured thumb

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays placed catcher Alejandro Kirk on the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Kirk fractured his left thumb in the 10th inning of Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Chicago’s Austin Hays fouled a pitch off the Toronto catcher’s glove. Kirk immediately left the game and was replaced by Tyler Heineman.

The 27-year-old Kirk had X-rays after the game.

Heineman was to get the start in Saturday afternoon’s rematch against the White Sox.

The Blue Jays recalled Brandon Valenzuela from triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Kirk earned his second all-star appearance in 2025 when he batted .282, hit 15 home runs and posted a .769 in on-base slugging.

He had one home run and three hits in 20 at-bats to start this season.

Also Saturday, Toronto acquired infielder Tyler Fitzgerald from the San Francisco Giants for cash. The 28-year-old was optioned to Buffalo.

He played 72 games for the Giants in 2025. Fitzgerald hit .217 with 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 14 RBI and nine stolen bases, while recording seven defensive runs saved at second base.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2026.