Blue Jays place Kirk on IL, call up Valenzuela

Two‑time All‑Star catcher Alejandro Kirk was placed on the 10‑day injured list after a dislocated and fractured thumb sustained when a foul ball struck his glove in the 10th inning of a 5‑4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The Blue Jays will see him with hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham on Monday to determine a recovery plan.

To fill Kirk’s spot, the club recalled Brandon Valenzuela from Triple‑A Buffalo. The 25‑year‑old, who has yet to debut in the majors, will likely split time behind the plate with Tyler Heineman while the team evaluates its catching depth.