MLB catchers have it tough.

Besides trying to catch baseballs from 60 feet away — sometimes at 100 mph or more, rarely hurtling at them in a straight line — they are perilously exposed to injury in a variety of ways. As the closest defensive player on the field to the batter, foul balls pose a particular danger that no other fielder must contend with.

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Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk learned that the hard way on April 3. Kirk exited the Blue Jays’ game with an injury to his left hand when it was struck by a foul ball in the 10th inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox.

Kirk removed his glove after Austin Hays’ foul ball scraped it, motioned toward the visitors’ dugout at Rate Field, and immediately left the field with an athletic trainer. According to Richard Griffin, Kirk’s left thumb was the area of concern.

Tyler Heineman took over for Kirk behind the plate. Chicago ultimately won the game, 5-4.

Kirk, 27, is a two-time All-Star (2022 and 2025) and won the American League Silver Slugger Award at catcher in 2022. He had two hits in his first 18 at-bats (.125) to start the 2026 season.

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More to come on this story.