The Toronto Blue Jays made a series of roster moves Friday after activating catcher Alejandro Kirk from the 60-day injured list.
Toronto placed outfielder Daulton Varsho on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation, recalled outfielder Davis Schneider from Triple-A, and designated catcher Tyler Heineman for assignment.
Kirk, who will catch and hit fourth Friday against the New York Yankees, hasn't played since suffering a fractured left thumb April 3. The 27-year-old hit .282/.348/.421 with 15 home runs and 76 RBIs and earned his second career All-Star nod last season. He also recorded an .842 OPS in 83 postseason plate appearances during the Blue Jays' World Series run.
Rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela has shone in Kirk's absence, posting a .790 OPS - the second best on the team behind Jesús Sánchez - in 145 plate appearances. His strong performance made Heineman expendable.
Jays could use Kirk or Valenzuela at DH with George Springer in OF per John Schneider. Springer has quietly been taking some fly balls as prep for that possibility.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) June 12, 2026
Varsho hasn't started a game since June 5 against the Baltimore Orioles. He's hitting .256/.331/.408 with five home runs and 17 RBIs this year. The Blue Jays are hopeful that he'll only need the minimum stint on the IL, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes figure to patrol center field in his absence.
Schneider has posted an irregular slash line of .188/.550/.219 in Triple-A since being optioned in May. He's drawn 24 walks in 60 plate appearances with the Buffalo Bisons.
