Jays’ Kirk looking to bounce back
Sure, Alejandro Kirk was among the Blue Jays who lagged on offence in 2023, but was he the entire cause for the team’s power shortage?
Of course he wasn’t. But at times it might have felt that way, as the still developing (but struggling) catcher bore the brunt of overcooked criticism, some of it warranted, much of it unnecessarily personal.
It was, Kirk said during a chat outside the Jays clubhouse this week, “a difficult year for me and for the team.”
If there’s a renaissance happening at the plate with the Jays this spring, Kirk is among those at the forefront of it. In the 15 games he’s appeared in (before Sunday’s date here against the Phillies) Kirk has hit for average (.371) and for power (three homers and three doubles from his 15 hits). In short, he’s reminding many around the team of the prowess he unleashed in 2022.
It’s a resurgence borne out of a strong off-season that included an early arrival in Florida to get ready for the season.
“We’re talking about numbers in spring training and they don’t count,” Kirk said through interpreter Hector Lebron. “But at the same time, it makes you feel good mentally that all the hard work you’ve put in is showing results. And then you get the confidence that you can carry it through to the season.”
That work has been evident in many ways. Kirk is clearly in better shape physically, as evidenced by the way he’s getting after the baseball in his at-bats. But the big move may have been arriving in Florida early to lay the groundwork for his committed return to success.
“It was very important for me to come here early to prepare myself, to be ready,” Kirk said. “Not just for spring training, for the entire season. I understand it’s a sacrifice to leave your family behind early, but sometimes you have to do hard things to get great results.”
The family, of course, was a big part of the Kirk narrative a year ago. His late arrival to camp last year was necessitated as he awaited the birth of his daughter Emilia. The longer his absence dragged on, the more difficult it became to compensate for lost time.
While Kirk is well aware of those struggles, he’s not about to attribute any of it to the arrival of the little family member he clearly adores.
“I’m not going to blame (his shortened spring training,)” Kirk said. “I’m not the type of person to make excuses. It was my fault. For some reason during the year, I couldn’t make the adjustments that I wanted to. In the off-season and spring training you work on those things but once the season starts, it’s different.”
Kirk’s teammates and coaching staff have been impressed with what they’ve seen from the Tijuana, Mexico, native the past couple of months. The early arrival, the locked-in approach and a return to some of the pop he flashed in 2022 has been an encouraging development.
“Night-and-day difference, I think,” manager John Schneider said. “He got here in January and really just started attacking it.
“Such a unique circumstance last year, but him being stable here and getting his work in with the pitchers and the consistency of his at-bats, his swing ... it’s just been what we’ve been accustomed to with him.”
The team was supportive of Kirk during his absence, understanding of the pending big day in the Kirk family. The Jays even sent staff to be with the catcher to help keep him active.
“We had guys with him in California last year trying to ramp things up, but you can’t replicate spring training — the games, the innings, getting your gear on and gear off,” Schneider said. “I think last year was just playing catch up a little bit.
“(This year) you can see subjectively that the bat speed is a little different. He’s getting the ball in he air. He’s not swinging at bad pitches.”
Besides the physical success he’s had, Kirk feels he’s in a good place to once again be an influential piece in the Jays offence. His defence will be in extra focus early on, especially with Danny Jansen recovering from a broken bone in his hand.
“I feel in a good spot physically and mentally,” Kirk said. “That’s the key to being successful, to be relaxed and put your work in and then go out there and do what you’ve got to do. If you’re mentally ready, you’re going to be successful.”