Alejandro Kirk cracks top 75 of MLB Network's best players list

After a career year with the Blue Jays, catcher Alejandro Kirk has rightfully earned a spot inside the top 75 on MLB Network’s "Top 100 Players Right Now" list, coming in at 74.

Kirk's 2024, where he slashed .253/.319/.359 with a .677 OPS, did not live up to the standards that Blue Jays fans are used to, and he clearly proved that to be true during his bounce back 2025 campaign. In a year where he carried most of the load behind the plate (130 games played) he slashed .282/.348/.421 and a .769 OPS along with 15 homers, a career high.

Last year, he solidified himself as one of the most productive catchers in all of baseball, while remaining a stabalizing presence behind the plate defensively.

A career resurgence puts Kirk back in the league-wide spotlight

After an inconsistent 2024 season, resulting in 103 games played, Kirk returned to his All-Star form, a direct result of a new approach. Kirk showed improved bat speed and more consistent contact throughout the season, particularly against high velocity pitching. For example, his hard hit rate jumped from 40.9% to 50.8%, while his barrel rate jumped from 6.7% to 10.1%.

Beyond his offensive production, Kirk continued to establish himself as one of the premier defensive catchers in the league. He ranked in the 98th percentile in pitch framing and the 100th percentile in blocks above average, numbers that reflect just how impactful he is behind the plate.

That defensive excellence earned praise from former catcher and Blue Jays analyst Joe Siddall during a Jays Journal interview earlier this year. “Pitchers say a lot of good things about Alejandro,” Siddall said. “He’s just such a good receiver, and he blocks so well, too. He has exceeded my expectations from when I first saw him.”

Kirk’s strong regular season carried over into October. In the postseason, he hit .254/.349/.493 with a .842 OPS and five homers across 15 games, delivering many timely RBIs while continuing to control the running game at an elite level. His standout postseason performance included a multi-homer game in the ALDS and a crucial three-run home run in Game 3 of the World Series.

At just 26-years-old, Kirk is firmly in the prime of his career and under team control for the next few years. The production makes the Blue Jays’ five-year, $58 million contract extension signed in March 2025 look like a great investment. With his blend of elite contact ability, improving power, strong plate discipline, and top-tier defensive impact behind the plate, he has established himself as one of the most complete catchers in baseball.

His inclusion on MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now list feels like the start of sustained league-wide recognition for a player Toronto has wisely committed to long term.