Blue Jays ecstatic that this player has found his groove at the right time

Alejandro Kirk is back. With a career game at the plate, the Blue Jays catcher single-handedly blew the roof off Rogers Centre, helping them to secure the AL East in game 162, their first division title since 2015.

On a stage filled with pressure and angst, Kirk put the team on his back with a game that not only secured a banner but reminded fans of just how dangerous he can be when locked in. The Blue Jays’ catcher did more than just perform, going three-for-five with two home runs, a double, and six RBI.

Blue Jays ecstatic that this player has found his groove at the right time

His afternoon was capped off with the most emotion he's ever displayed, including a curtain call after his second bomb of the day. Kirk's masterclass began in the bottom of the first, tied one-one with one out and the bases juiced. His first career grand slam, which travelled 387 feet with a 103 mph exit velocity, was a blast he will never forget.

While that was perhaps Kirk's most memorable swing, his second most memorable swing came just a few innings later. In the bottom of the fifth, with the Jays leading by two, Kirk blasted another moonshot, this time to centre field, travelling 419 feet with an exit velocity of 107 mph, to extend the lead to four. While he rounded the bases, you could see the monkey flying off his back, as he displayed raw emotion that Jays fans rarely see out of him.

Headed into the division series, Kirk is getting hot at the right time. Frankly, he's not been his regular self for the last while. In his previous 15 games, he's slashing .188/.241/.396. Before his blast in the second game of the series on Saturday, he had just five hits in his last 50 at bats, but he's finally found his home run stroke again, and it's come down to his bat speed, per Hazel Mae on the broadcast.

Kirk's hot stretch to end the season means the world for the depth of the Blue Jays' lineup. Just a week ago, he looked lost at the plate, rolling over on pitches and struggling to square anything up. However, he’s rediscovered his quick hands, bat speed and barrel control, the same tools that made him such a breakout hitter in 2022.

Now, the stage shifts to October. If Kirk’s bat holds firm in its current state, Toronto suddenly looks a lot more dangerous.