Mired in a four-game losing streak, the Blue Jays at least saw some positive news down on the farm on Wednesday.
Catcher Alejandro Kirk hit a home run in the first game of his rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin, helping the Blue Jays to a 4-2 win over Daytona at TD Ballpark. Kirk is making his way back from early April surgery to repair a fractured left thumb. He served as the designated hitter Wednesday.
Battling to a full count to lead off the third inning, Kirk then received a hanging slider that he punched the opposite way at 97 mph for the solo shot. He also drew a first-inning walk and grounded out in the fourth before being replaced by a pinch-hitter in the seventh.
The Jays could use Kirk back after he earned his second All-Star selection in 2025. The 27-year-old from Mexico slashed .282/.348/.421 with a career-high 15 homers. He was a bit slow-going in his first five games this season, starting 3-for-20 with one homer, a double and a pair of RBIs.
Toronto has leaned heavily on rookie Brandon Valenzuela in Kirk’s stead. He’s posted an above-average .723 OPS with five homers in 40 games, good for 1.1 FanGraphs WAR.