The 2026 World Baseball Classic just got more competitive.

On the first day of the new year (Jan. 1), it was announced on "X" by Team Mexico that Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk would join the team for the 2026 international competition. The video was shared by WBC analyst/reporter Shawn Spradling.

Kirk will be Mexico's starting catcher in the 2026 WBC.

This upcoming spring will be the first WBC for Kirk. He was initially supposed to participate in the 2023 tournament but withdrew due to the birth of his child. Alexis Wilson replaced him as Mexico's starting backstop in '23.

Kirk was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, before being discovered and signed by the Blue Jays in a showcase hosted by Mexican League club Toros de Tijuana.

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Aside from Cal Raleigh, who set the single-season MLB record for home runs by a catcher and switch-hitter (60), Kirk had an argument as the best catcher in the American League this past season.

Kirk was named an All-Star for the second time in his career this year (first since 2022). He finished the regular season with a slash line of .282/.348/.421 with a .769 OPS. He hit 18 doubles and 15 home runs with 76 RBIs.

Kirk was one of Toronto's best hitters in the playoffs, which saw the club win its first pennant since 1993 and fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers by just one run in extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series.

In the postseason, Kirk slashed .254/.349/.493 with an .842 OPS and hit two doubles and five homers with 13 RBIs.

Kirk is the fourth '25 All-Star either confirmed or expected to compete for Mexico. Other All-Stars include outfielder Randy Arozarena, third baseman Issac Paredes and right-handed closer Andres Munoz. Another outfielder, Jarren Duran, made the All-Star Game in 2024.

Kirk could also get the opportunity to get to know one of the Blue Jays' most intriguing additions of the offseason.

Starting pitcher Cody Ponce was signed by Toronto to a three-year, $30 million contract this offseason. He's pitched the last four seasons overseas — three in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (2022-24) and one in the Korean Baseball Organization ('25). He won the MVP award his sole year pitching in the KBO.

Ponce confirmed earlier this offseason he received an invite to pitch for Team Mexico, where he'll likely be a bullpen arm. But due to his lengthy excursion away from Major League Baseball, there's a chance the Blue Jays prefer to ramp him up in-house rather than risk injury or overexertion in the WBC.

If Toronto does give Ponce the "OK" to compete in the tournament, he and Kirk can develop some chemistry going into 2026.

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