Alejandro Kirk has been placed on the injured list

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Alejandro Kirk has been placed on the injured list
Credit: Twitter

Yesterday, we saw Alejandro Kirk go down during the game. The Blue Jays catcher was injured while behind home plate, and he was clearly in pain in his left hand.

And of course, the risk of a prolonged absence for Kirk was cause for concern in Toronto.

So we were waiting for news on the catcher, and now we've just learned that he's heading to the injured list. The diagnosis: he's fractured his left thumb.

The team must now find solutions within the organization… and they'll take advantage of the situation to give Brandon Valenzuela, a promising prospect, a chance. He was acquired in exchange for Will Wagner and has been very solid in the minors since joining the organization.

He also had a good spring training: he deserves his chance.

And in the case of Kirk's injury, there is still cause for some concern. The catcher also suffered a dislocated thumb, and he will meet with a doctor on Monday to determine the next steps.

Surgery is a possibility.

Obviously, we know Kirk is a big loss for Toronto. He's a key player for the team, and he's a stabilizing force for a rotation that has several new faces this season.

But at the same time, there's still optimism about Valenzuela coming to town.

It's worth noting, however, that Valenzuela will have to wait a little longer before making his debut: Tyler Heineman (who shouldn't be overlooked in the equation) will be the starter today.

Here's what the Jays' revamped lineup will look like today in Kirk's absence:

So we'll see if the Jays can hold their own without Kirk, who won't be back for a while.

But at the same time, it also gives the team a chance to see what Valenzuela is made of… and that could be useful to know.

Created by humans, assisted by AI.

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