Blue Jays Make Unfortunate Announcement After Alejandro Kirk News
The Toronto Blue Jays return home Friday looking to gain ground in the American League East when they open a three-game series against the New York Yankees. After spending much of the season shuffling personnel due to injuries, Toronto has been waiting for its roster to finally move closer to full strength.
For weeks, much of the focus had centered on Alejandro Kirk's recovery. The All-Star catcher has been sidelined since April after suffering a fractured and dislocated thumb, forcing the Blue Jays to patch together the position with Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman handling the bulk of the workload.
Kirk recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo and appeared ready for his long-awaited return.
Ahead of Friday's matchup against New York, the Blue Jays made it official. Kirk was reinstated to the active roster and is set to rejoin the lineup after more than two months away from the major league club. To create roster space, Toronto designated Heineman for assignment.
The encouraging news, however, was accompanied by a fresh setback. The Blue Jays also announced that outfielder Daulton Varsho has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Varsho had been battling wrist discomfort and missed time earlier this month, and despite initial optimism surrounding his condition, the club ultimately decided he needed additional time to recover.
ROSTER MOVES:
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 12, 2026
C Alejandro Kirk reinstated from the 60-day IL and will be active tonight
OF Daulton Varsho (left wrist inflammation) placed on 10-day IL
OF Davis Schneider recalled from Triple-A and will be active tonight
C Tyler Heineman designated for… pic.twitter.com/9wn7kTJMd9
Kirk's return arrives at a crucial moment for Toronto. While he appeared in only five games before suffering a fractured thumb in early April, the Blue Jays were counting on him to build on a strong 2025 campaign in which he hit .282 with a career-high 15 home runs and 76 RBI across 130 games.
The loss of Varsho, meanwhile, leaves another hole for Toronto to navigate. One of the team's most versatile defenders, Varsho provides value across all three outfield spots while bringing power and speed to the lineup when healthy. His absence will likely create additional opportunities for the Blue Jays' outfield depth as the club looks to keep pace in a tightly contested division race.
First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 7:37 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre. Toronto enters the matchup at 33-36 and third in the division, with Trey Yesavage (2-3, 3.16 ERA) set to take the mound. The Yankees, who sit second in the AL East at 41-26, are expected to counter with Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.86 ERA).
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 12:31 PM.