The Toronto Blue Jays will have to navigate the absence of their all-star catcher.

Toronto announced Saturday that Alejandro Kirk has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb fracture and that rookie backstop Branon Valenzuela has been recalled from triple-A Buffalo.

Kirk exited Friday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox in the 10th inning when a foul tip clipped his catching hand behind the plate. The 27-year-old immediately looked to the dugout and told manager John Schneider and team training staff that he needed to leave the game.

He was replaced by Tyler Heineman, who made a costly error on a bunt two batters after he entered. Heineman will get the start on Saturday in Chicago.

Kirk was slashing .150/.227/.350 with one home run through his first five games of the season.

The seven-year MLB veteran is coming off his second career all-star season in 2025, when he posted a .769 OPS and hit 15 homers in 130 games.

Valenzuela, meanwhile, will join the Blue Jays after being acquired from the San Diego Padres in a swap for Will Wagner at last year’s trade deadline.

The 25-year-old switch-hitter was added to Toronto’s 40-man roster last fall and impressed during big-league spring training, going 7-for-23 with a pair of extra-base hits.

Valenzuela had three hits and one home run in his first four games of the season with the triple-A Bisons.