Alejandro Kirk is expecting the birth of his first child, but the wait is starting to make the Toronto Blue Jays itchy. Kirk is yet to report to Spring Training. With him part of Team Mexico's roster, there is growing concern as to when they will see him penciled in to be the team's starting catcher.
Alejandro Kirk was an All-Star for the Blue Jays in his third major league season in 2022. He hit .285 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI. Since his 2020 MLB debut, he has hit .278 with 23 homers and 90 RBI.
With each day ticking by, there is less of a chance that Kirk will be able to play for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Furthermore, he will be ill-prepared for the upcoming Toronto Blue Jays season.
"You’re getting to the point where you really have to make the best decision for the club,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider told MLB.com Wednesday.
"Nothing yet on the baby front, so we’ve talked through a number of different scenarios regarding what’s best for him and what’s best for us. If it does get to that, then that will be part of the equation."
"The Toronto Sun" reported Wednesday that the Blue Jays are considering asking Kirk not to play for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Kirk remains in Tijuana, Mexico, as he continues to wait for his child's berth. While the team and player had made plans regarding this, the length of Kirk's departure has become problematic.
According to "The Sun", Toronto's concerns are not that Kirk is out of shape. He needs time to work with the Blue Jays pitching staff considering all the new rules and guidelines MLB is debuting in 2023.
Toronto Blue Jays banking on Alejandro Kirk
Alejandro Kirk emerged as the No. 1 backstop in the Toronto Blue Jays' glut of catchers. His main competitor, Gabriel Moreno, was included in a trade that landed outfielder Daulton Varsho from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December. Kirk's backup is Danny Jansen.
"We’re right around that time frame (where a decision has to be made),” Schneider told "the Sun".
"One, it’s about building up correctly, and two, getting reps with the new rules that are being implemented and the pitch timer and things like that. It always gets heightened when you are dealing with a catcher, especially in a year like this when you are learning new rules."
While Schneider is sympathetic to Kirk wanting to be around for the birth of his first child, he says time is running short.