Alejandro Kirk is back with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The All-Star catcher was activated by Toronto on Friday and will be available Friday evening for the series-opener against the New York Yankees. He will bat fourth and catch starter Trey Yesavage.
Outfielder Daulton Varsho is heading to the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation, while catcher Tyler Heineman was designated for assignment. Outfielder Davis Schneider was also called up Friday afternoon.
Kirk has been out since fracturing his left thumb on April 3 in a game against the Chicago White Sox.
It had been a slow start to the season in limited action for Kirk, who was slashing .150/.227/.350 with one home run and two RBI in five games prior to going down. He appeared in six minor-league rehab games and hit .167 with one home run before returning to the Jays.
Brandon Valenzuela has impressed behind the plate for the Blue Jays in Kirk’s absence, sitting in a tie for second on the team with seven home runs. He’s slashing .252/.333/.457 and has 18 RBI in 46 games.
Varsho has not started a game since last weekend and missed every game of the series against the Philadelphia Phillies except for an appearance as a pinch-runner Tuesday evening. His placement on the IL is retroactive to June 10.
Heineman, 34, had a .777 OPS as Toronto’s backup catcher last season but had struggled this year, hitting just .154 in 31 games.
Schneider is hitting .127 in 38 big-league games this year but has drawn plenty of walks, posting a .295 on-base percentage. He also has an eye-popping .550 OBP in 14 games with Triple-A Buffalo.
The Blue Jays enter play Friday three games under .500 at 33-36, 1.5 games back of the American League’s final playoff spot.
