The Blue Jays' starting catcher, Alejandro Kirk, took a foul ball of his thumb
The Toronto Blue Jays' injury pile has continued to grow larger and larger less than 10 games into the 2026 season.
In spring training alone, three starting pitchers — Shane Bieber, Jose Berrios and Trey Yesavage — suffered injuries that kept them off the Opening Day roster. Yesavage was sent on a rehab assignment with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday.
Cody Ponce, a fellow starting pitcher, will also be out an extended period of time after suffering an ACL sprain in a game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
Toronto attempted to mitigate the injuries in the rotation by signing veteran left-hander and two-time All-Star Patrick Corbin to a one-year deal Friday.
On the same days the Blue Jays made a move to help mitigate the injuries to the rotation, they suffered another potential injury to the player those ailing hurlers will be throwing to when they return.
Toronto catcher and 2025 All-Star Alejandro Kirk took a foul ball off his thumb in a 5-4 loss against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
According to postgame comments made by Toronto manager John Schneider, which were shared in a post on "X" from MLB.com reporter Keegan Matheson, Kirk told the skipper he needed to exit the game during a meeting out on the field between the two.
Starting pitcher Dylan Cease, who threw the pitch that ultimately got fouled off Kirk's thumb, called the All-Star backstop a "big part of the team." Cease also stated he hopes Kirk is "OK."
Kirk underwent x-rays on his thumb after the game Friday. The results of the tests are not yet known.
Kirk was one of the Blue Jays' best hitters last season. He slashed .282/.348/.421 with a .769 OPS and hit 18 doubles and 15 home runs with 76 RBIs in 130 games.
The Tijuna, Mexico, native continued his strong regular season and made a major impact on Toronto's American League pennant-winning postseason.
In the playoffs, Kirk slashed .254/.349/.493 with an .842 OPS in 18 games and hit two doubles and five homers with 13 RBIs.
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk runs after hitting a single in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 1 at Rogers Centre in Toronton. -- John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images.Kirk has had a slower start to this season. Through five games, He's slashed .150/.227/.350 and has hit one double and one home run with two RBIs.
However, beyond just his bat, Kirk's duties behind the plate provide a high value to Toronto. Especially with the injuries to the starting rotation.
If Kirk is out for an extended period of time, the Blue Jays will need to find a way to navigate a pitching staff that is racked with ailments without its starting catcher.
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