Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk makes World Series history for native country

Among the many "firsts" from the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 1 win, is one that may help describe the 2025 World Series as a true global event. Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk became the first Mexican-born player to hit a home run in a World Series game.

During a nine-run explosion in the sixth inning, Kirk crushed a 93-mph, four-seam fastball off of Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda. The Tijuana, Mexico native hit a 403-foot, two-run home run to left center, which was clocked at 102 mph off of the bat. Kirk finished Game 1 going 3 for 3 with a walk and three runs in four plate appearances. Kirk is also the first Mexican-born player to record three hits in a World Series game.

Kirk is the first Mexican-born player to hit a home run, record three hits in a World Series game

A player with six years of experience, Kirk may seem to be the unlikeliest guy to accomplish such a feat. Over his major-league career, Kirk has hit 51 home runs over 564 games and 2,069 plate appearances. He is a very good hitter to be sure, as his career .345 on-base percentage and .743 OPS might suggest. He's a two-time All-Star, but he's just not known as a home run hitter.

There are other Mexican-born players who probably should have been the first to homer in a Fall Classic. There's Vinny Castilla and his 320 career home runs, but he never played in a World Series. There's Jorge Orta and his 130 home runs, but he only managed just a triple and a single in the postseason. Aurelio Rodriguez hit 124 home runs in a 17-year career, and went 5 for 12 in the 1981 World Series. But all five hits were singles.

There's Karim Garcia, who played for the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series, went 8 for 30 with just eight singles. Bobby Avila, who has the highest career WAR for any Mexican-born position player with 28.5, played in the 1954 World Series. Unfortunately, Avila's Cleveland Indians were swept in four games by the Willie Mays-led New York Giants, and Avila managed only two singles.

Erubiel Durazo was a member of the 2001 champs, the Arizona Diamondbacks. He homered in that year's National League Championship Series, but
managed just four other hits in the entire postseason. Isaac Parades hasn't played in the World Series yet, but he's an All-Star and 26 years old, so
that may change in the future.

But, as Blue Jays fans are aware, Kirk has made a career of being overlooked. In fact, the Blue Jays themselves only found Kirk because the team was scouting another catcher. His size and stature may not be that of a typical ballplayer, and he's been mistaken for clubhouse staff before. Yet, Kirk produces and often surprises onlookers, as he did in Game 1.

Kirk's performance in Game 1 presented another "first" as well. He became the first catcher to hit a home run and record three hits in a World Series game since 1986. That season, Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter went 3 for 4 with two home runs and three RBI in Game 4 of the 1986 World Series. Carter made it known on social media he enjoyed the performance.

Blue Jays fans may hope Kirk's performance is history repeating itself. Carter's New York Mets won the legendary series in seven games over the Boston Red Sox.