Kirk is a keeper

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This year’s MLB All-Star Game is at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19. The Midsummer Classic is going to be quite an event.

One of the biggest surprises in the first release of fan voting results this week is that Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk is leading the voting at his position. In fact, he’s leading in a substantial fashion:

1. Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays: 1,057,008 2. Jose Trevino, Yankees: 387,983 3. Salvador Perez, Royals: 266,604 4. Martín Maldonado, Astros: 231,005 5. Christian Vázquez, Red Sox: 199,010

Kirk has 35 per cent of the vote, with Jose Trevino next closest with just 13 per cent. It is the biggest lead at any position.

Kirk has an American League-leading 2.2 fWAR and 2.9 bWAR for catchers and is hitting .307/.395/.487. He’s become a very tough out at the major-league level, just like he was at the minor-league level.

Kirk has extraordinary plate discipline, as evidenced by his 27 walks to 22 strikeouts. He only strikes out one out of every 10 at-bats. Plus, his power production is starting to develop, as he has hit five of his eight home runs in June. He is also better defensively than I expected, grading out slightly above average at the catcher position.

He has become the protection the Jays needed behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In fact, Vlad is thriving with Kirk behind him in the order, having just been named the AL Player of the Week. In an interesting move in the game on Tuesday against Chicago, White Sox manager Tony La Russa chose to pitch to Guerrero with runners on second and third and two outs rather than walking him to face Kirk. That is respect.

Kirk doesn’t quite look the part of MLB star, which makes the 5-foot-8, 265-pound backstop even more