Alejandro Kirk’s Blue Jays World Series run is inspiring AL East rival Jonathan Aranda

Alejandro Kirk has always been one of the most likeable players in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse. His steady presence, team-first approach and easygoing personality have made him a trusted teammate. But Kirk’s “Mr. Nice Guy” influence isn't limited to the guys who wear the same uniform as him.

It has extended across the American League East, where Kirk’s longtime friend Jonathan Aranda is trying to help the Tampa Bay Rays capture their first World Series title.

With the pressure of the postseason mounting, Aranda turned to his childhood friend who had just lived through the grind of a pressure packed postseason. During the Blue Jays’ run to the 2025 World Series Kirk played in all 18 games and slashed .254/.349/.493 with a 132 wRC+ and five home runs.

“I was like, ‘Hey, do you have any tips for me moving forward here in October?’ And his main suggestion was, just have fun, just have fun and be yourself,” Aranda told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi through interpreter Kevin Vera ahead of Game 5 of the ALCS. “That's honestly helped me a lot to kind of slow the game down and enjoy the moment and embrace this challenge of what is October baseball.”

That advice could not have come at a better time for the Rays' Aranda who went 0-for-10 through the first three games of the best-of-seven series against the Cleveland Guardians. Then in Game 4 he broke out with three hits, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in the Rays’ 7-3 win.

Kirk’s advice allowed Arenda some time to reflect on the process how to revive himself and be the player everyone expected him to be. He encouraged Aranda to trust himself and remember why he was there. The 28-year-old first baseman hit 22 home runs during the regular season while slashing .274/.358/.434 with a 123 wRC+ and a13.8 offensive fWAR.

Longtime friends Alejandro Kirk and Jonathan Aranda have always supported each other

For Kirk, helping a player on a division rival didn't seem like a conflict considering the Blue Jays bowed out of the postseason before it even began. Aranda said the two “talk every day, we're best friends, we're brothers,” adding that Kirk is “someone that I have by my side.”

The support has always worked both ways. When the Blue Jays advanced to the World Series last year, Aranda flew in to support Kirk, saying “it was a big thing for me to go see him, for us, to see each other in the World Series.”

Watching Kirk make history on baseball’s biggest stage gave Aranda a chance to picture himself playing October baseball. He said, “In that moment last year, I kind of visualized myself in the same scenario. So now, fast-forward a year later, I use it as motivation right now. Hopefully I can make those dreams that I had last year a reality and help this team to a World Series berth.”

The Blue Jays would rather see their own players carrying Kirk’s lessons deep into October. Still, his role in Aranda’s run says something meaningful about Kirk’s off-field qualities that don't show up in the scorebox every day.

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