Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk has won the 2022 American League Silver Slugger Award at catcher on Thursday. In 2022, Kirk played 75 games for Toronto while at the catcher position. In that time, he batted .305 with seven home runs and 33 runs batted in. During 313 plate appearances and 269 at bats, Kirk scored 36 runs and had 82 hits, 13 doubles, 39 walks, 116 total bases, two sacrifice flies, a .396 on base percentage, .431 slugging percentage, and was hit by a pitch three times.
Kirk also was a designated hitter in 51 games and a pinch hitter in 18 other contests. The first time All-Star’s complete statistics were a .285 batting average with 14 home runs and 63 runs batted in. During 139 games, 541 plate appearances, and 470 at bats, Kirk has scored 59 runs and had 134 hits, 19 doubles, 63 walks, 195 total bases, four sacrifice flies, been hit four times, and had an on base percentage of .372, and a slugging percentage of .415. It is interesting that Kirk’s offensive statistics were better at the catcher position than as a designated hitter.
Kirk is actually the first Blue Jays catcher in franchise history to win the Silver Slugger Award. The award is presently annually to the best hitter at each position in the American League and National League. For the first time in 2022, an award was presented to a utility player in each league.
