Overview
- Toronto said Monday the two-time All-Star catcher will have left-thumb surgery Tuesday following a specialist review.
- A foul tip off Austin Hays’ bat in the 10th inning Friday struck the bottom of Kirk’s glove, leaving the thumb dislocated and fractured with no ligament damage reported.
- The club placed Kirk on the 10-day injured list Saturday, turned to Tyler Heineman as primary catcher, and recalled Brandon Valenzuela from Triple-A Buffalo.
- Manager John Schneider said the team will set a timetable after the procedure, with outside reports quoting him suggesting the absence could last multiple weeks.
- The loss of a key catcher adds to Toronto’s early-season injuries to starters Cody Ponce, Shane Bieber, José Berríos and Trey Yesavage, raising pressure on a thin roster for the defending AL champions.