Blue Jays' Kirk earns second all-star nod, while Springer gets snubbed

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Vlad Guerrero Jr. won the popular vote, as he tends to do this time of the year, and as a fan favourite was an automatic berth as the starting first baseman for this month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.

The Blue Jays’ second participant for the Midsummer Classic, catcher Alejandro Kirk, on Sunday was named to the AL squad as a reserve, a well-deserved honour for the native of Tijuana, Mexico.

But arguably the most valuable Jays player to this point has been denied. Sometimes outfielder, sometimes designated hitter George Springer was left off the list announced Sunday.

While starters were announced by fans, the roster was filled out by Major League Baseball’s player ballot — a vote of the players, managers and coaches and by MLB representatives. Part of the mandate in that portion of the elections process was to ensure that each of the 30 clubs are represented during all-star week.

Springer, it could certainly be argued, would have been a more than worthy candidate.

With a team-leading 16 home runs at age 35, Springer is having a renaissance season, easily his most productive as a Blue Jay. And the stats of the former Houston Astro tell just part of the story as Springer has been a leader of the surging Jays, winners of eight in a row after a 3-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Not only has Springer hit five home runs in his last six games, he has 21 RBIs in his last 12, all-star calibre efforts for the AL East-leading Jays.

“He’s on a heater right now,” manager John Schneider said this weekend. “He’s been so good. He’s still showing the league that he can do this. I think he should be an American League all-star, there’s no doubt.”

Apparently there is.

The addition of Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners is certainly the one that stands out as a miscarriage of justice as it applies to Springer, a four-time all-star.

The Jays veteran leads Rodriguez in just about every offensive category of note including average (.281 to .247), homers (16 to 11) and OPS (.886 to .695.) It’s not as if Rodriguez was a must add, either, given that three of his teammates are also heading to Atlanta.

The final additions were announced on U.S. network ESPN early Sunday evening, but Kirk was given a heads up in the Jays clubhouse before Sunday’s win over the Angels to finish off a terrific 7-0 homestand for the Jays. Kirk, who was an all-star in 2022, will be making his second appearance at the gala event.

While his stellar defence has established him as one of the premier backstops in the game, his offensive contributions have been a huge plus this year. He’s batting .301 thus far in 2025 and has driven in 41 runs.

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With the trade of Danny Jansen last summer, the Jays were effectively handing Kirk the full-time starter’s role, an assignment he has relished. He’s already played in 75 games this season and, if he remains healthy, will blast by the 103 he dressed in last season. That reliability and performance at the plate has given the Jays good early returns on the five-year, $58-million US contract extension Kirk signed in the spring.

There’s a possibility that Springer could be added to the roster joining Kirk and five-time all-star Guerrero as the July 15 game nears, should other players withdraw and replacements are required.

Knowing Springer, though, he won’t be too busted up about the snub, perceived or otherwise. At his age and given the grind of the season thus far, he’s likely to appreciate the added time off.

And how knows? Perhaps it will add further motivation to continue what has truly been a renaissance campaign in this his sixth season with the Jays.