TORONTO -- On the cusp of becoming a hero to all of Canada, Alejandro Kirk has been immortalized in his home country of Mexico.
To recognize his historic World Series run with the Blue Jays this October, Kirk was honored with a mural in his hometown of Tijuana. The image, painted by renowned urban artist Mode Orozco, features Kirk donning a Blue Jays jersey and hat. Behind him is his last name in large blue letters across a red wall that sits beneath a bridge.
Kirk was overjoyed to learn of the homage back home.
“I got a chance to see it,” Kirk said. “Very happy with all the support. It’s a beautiful thing.”
The Blue Jays enter Game 6 on Friday night at Rogers Centre just one win away from clinching their first World Series championship since 1993.
Should Toronto pull it off, Kirk will be remembered as a key member of this group. Through five games, he’s 6-for-18 with two home runs, with his six RBIs leading all players so far in this Fall Classic. That’s in addition to his strong work behind the plate, where he’s considered one of the top blockers and pitch framers in all of baseball.
“He’s an elite catcher, then he’s also a really, really good hitter,” said Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt. “We know how much he means to the pitching staff. Overall, he’s the total package.”
For the entire playoffs, Kirk’s five home runs are already the fourth most all-time in postseason Blue Jays history, trailing only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (eight), Joe Carter (six) and Jose Bautista (six).
Kirk, a two-time All-Star, is also achieving national glory. In Toronto’s Game 1 victory, the 26-year-old backstop became the first Mexican-born player to hit a World Series home run. He is the 18th player from Mexico to play in a World Series, the seventh position player -- the first since the Yankees' Karim Garcia in 2003 -- and the first to appear as a catcher.