Alejandro Kirk gave John Schneider a needed lift Sunday, and Shane Bieber is right behind him with another big rehab test coming.
Kirk is progressing in his recovery from left thumb surgery, and Schneider said the catcher's thumb is responding well as he ramps up. He has been throwing and hitting, and he recently caught one of Bieber's side sessions.
That catching detail matters. Just a few days ago, Sportsnet reported Kirk had started a hitting progression and was throwing, but he had not yet returned to catching. This is a real step forward.
The bat is still the slower part of the comeback. Schneider said Kirk is not taking full batting practice yet, and the thumb seems to bother him more while hitting than while catching.
That gives the Blue Jays a clearer read on where the recovery stands. Kirk is closer to game shape behind the plate than he is in the batter's box, which is not a small detail for a catcher coming off thumb surgery.
Toronto also expects to have a better feel for Kirk's rehab-game timeline later this week. That does not put a return date on him yet, but it does move the conversation closer to actual games instead of only drills.
Shane Bieber's update brings a different kind of progress. He is scheduled to throw a two-up live batting practice session Monday, another step in his ramp-up after earlier bullpen work.
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Kirk and Bieber are finally giving Toronto real movement
For Bieber, this is the heavier checkpoint. NBC Sports reported he had already looked sharp in a two-up bullpen, and the next push was another two-up session before facing more hitters.
That is why Monday matters. Bullpens are one thing. Live hitters are where timing, command, and stress start to look more like real baseball again.
The Blue Jays still need patience with both players. FanGraphs' injury tracker lists no firm return date for Kirk or Bieber, and Toronto's MLB injury page still frames both as active rehab situations, not activation countdowns.
Still, these are the kind of updates Toronto has been waiting on. Kirk is catching again and edging toward rehab games, while Bieber is building toward the kind of live work that can lead to a minor-league assignment.
For Schneider, that is enough to matter right now. The Blue Jays do not have either player back yet, but they finally have 2 injured regulars moving in the right direction at the same time.
Will Alejandro Kirk and Shane Bieber both make a big impact once they return?
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