2 Blue Jays players who've earned more playing time, 1 who deserves less

Alejandro Kirk is not doing much to justify his playing status.

This is a player who Jays fans have been rightfully spotlighting as needing to get off to a good start. To this point, it just hasn’t been happening for the burly catcher. Kirk didn’t offer much at the plate a season ago and his exhilarating introduction to the major leagues during the COVID season (.375 in 9 games) feels a like a lifetime ago. An All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2022, his game took a major step backward last year. In 123 games he slashed .250/ .334/ .358 with almost no power and a 93 OPS+.

Kirk needs to step it up fast. At the same time, he has looked decent on the other side of the ball. I will commend Kirk for his catching as he has thrown out a handful of baserunners trying to steal on him in the young season. A moment that particularly stood out was gunning down Jose Altuve trying to steal home in a close game.

On a sour note, it always feels like Kirk comes up with either runners on base or in scoring position. In the seventh inning of the middle game in Houston, Kirk grounded into a double play that ended a potentially promising inning. In the next game, he was finally pinch hit for by Brian Serven, a player who may soon be occupying a lion’s share of Kirk's playing time before long.

Serven became a player to watch during spring training and may be getting more playing time soon. Danny Jansen should be returning in relatively short order from another injury and when healthy is a more dynamic option than Kirk. Fans have been saying for a long time that any improvements on offense need to come internally. Kirk is typically the player cited as an example and he must make more strides as the season goes along.