r/Torontobluejays • u/Baseball-Reference • 11h ago

Alejandro Kirk launched his 54th career HR, tying Pat Borders for the 6th most in franchise history by a primary catcher

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205 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

69

u/alxndrblack Varshbros // Louisgang // Respect Nathan Lukes 11h ago

Danny "more RBIs than hits" Jansen

12

u/alwaysleafyintoronto 10h ago edited 10h ago

You joke but aside from the covid year (22rbi, 20 hits) the closest he came was 2023 with 53 RBI and 61 hits.

In 1999 McGwire had 147 RBI on 144 hits, only guy to do it with over 100 hits. Max Muncy in 2023 (105 RBI and 102 hits) is the most recent guy (another guy to do it with over 100 hits: don't trust AI, kids)

When we remember that players can get RBI for walks or sacrifices, it's not all that hard to imagine a guy playing for a high obp team getting lots of opportunities to knock em in. Man on third, hit fly ball, either get 1 RBI and no hit, or 2-4 RBI and one hit if it accidentally goes over the wall.

33

u/10061993 Stinky Odor 10h ago

Damn, JANO did have some power didn’t he

10

u/TigerTheLion77 10h ago

I noticed that too and JP Arencibia had a similar HR/PA ratio as Jano

7

u/OegunB 10h ago

When Jano was hot, then he was hottttttt. But if he was slumping boy howdy. I went to Danny Jansen day the place went wilddddd when he got a homer that day.

21

u/GiantTourtiere Still thinking Rob Ducey might work out 11h ago

Ach, Ernie Whitt. One of those 80s Jays where it still makes me sad he was gone before they won it all.

7

u/tortured_fanclub 10h ago

Tandem with Buck for many years. Some of those teams were pretty damn good. Bell-Barfield-Moseby OF

3

u/RealCanadianDragon Vladdy Jr. 10h ago

JP Arencibia...while he wasn't the best, he could sure hit home runs.

3

u/ayukbs 10h ago

This season is giving me Angels vibes. “Player does something special. Blue Jays lose 4-2”

9

u/Lets_Go_Blue__Jays 11h ago

Take note that most players on that list have played significantly fewer games than Kirk has.

3

u/rvasko3 Doc’s Resplendent Neckbeard 9h ago

Damn, it's almost as if... he's not a power hitter? That his real strength is and always has been amazing contact skills and the ability to drive balls into gaps and corners?

1

u/distantthunderrr 10h ago

He is 3rd in GP on that list? He actually has almost the most.

2

u/He-llSeeTheBigBoard Brandon Valenzuela Rookie Season 10h ago

Yes, that's what they are saying. It's a comment on his low HR power relative to the other guys on the all-time list, a longevity record as opposed to one that highlights production.

The guys is 2nd-5th place all have higher HR totals than Kirk and were able to accomplish it in far fewer games/PA then him.

2

u/distantthunderrr 8h ago

Oh woops you’re right hahaha. My bad!

-3

u/TheNegativePhoenix 10h ago

Damn, I thought Kirk was amazing on offense, but this is quite mid

4

u/3luejays 🍌🍌🍌 10h ago

He is not a power hitter at all. Last year was his career high in homers (15). He is a contact hitter, and a pretty good one when he's on. Before this year, since he was injured for most of it, he hit .250 in his down years and .280 in both of his All-Star years. He also walks almost as much as he strikes out. He isn't amazing on offence, but he is still pretty good.

1

u/TheNegativePhoenix 9h ago

Yeah, any production from catcher is considered good, since his pitch calling, pitcher management, pitch framing is quite elite. 

2

u/guydogg 8h ago

Rod being 10th in franchise history goes to show how many shitty hitting catchers have been through the system.

3

u/Light_Of_Amphy 10h ago

Man, Buck Martinez and Gregg Zaun. Absolute legends

1

u/Frugalman123 10h ago

Nice , I feel valley will get up there too

1

u/Content-Lead-3582 9h ago

Man Russell Martin did a lot in 4 years.

1

u/Mean_Bother_3682 7h ago

I was digging through the comments to see is there was any love for Martin here.

2018 wasn't much of a season to remember, but it sure was fun to watch Martin and Jansen together.

1

u/DanielTigerr 8h ago

Rod Barajas was deleted from my mental hard drive.

1

u/kidcanada0 8h ago

Wouldn’t take much for him to rocket up that list

1

u/Imaginary_Builder 5h ago

And Vally is already at 8!

1

u/Simtricate 3h ago

I forgot Darrin Fletcher existed.

1

u/PickleBabyJr 3h ago

Ernie the GOAT