Alejandro Kirk showed up at Tropicana Field to support childhood friend Jonathan Aranda in the ALCS, and Blue Jays fans are split on how they feel about it.

Kirk watched Game 6 in person on Monday, Oct. 19. The Rays beat the Guardians 7-3 that night to clinch a trip to the World Series.

Not everyone loved it. Some fans took to social media arguing that a Blue Jays catcher shouldn't be in the stands cheering on an AL East rival.

Plenty of others pushed back. "Love this for both of them!" one fan wrote, while another asked, "Didn't Aranda come support Kirk last year? Friendship goals."

That point matters. Aranda supported Kirk during the 2025 World Series, when Toronto fell to the Dodgers in seven games.

The bond runs deep. They grew up together in Tijuana and played on the same youth teams for 12 years, with the catcher's father managing their Little League team.

Jonathan Aranda credits Alejandro Kirk's advice for his ALCS turnaround

Kirk reached the majors first, debuting with Toronto in 2020. Aranda followed with Tampa Bay in 2022, and both made the AL All-Star team in 2025.

Before the postseason, Aranda asked his friend for advice, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reported. The message, relayed through interpreter Kevin Vera, was to "just have fun and be yourself."

It worked. After opening the series 0-for-10, Aranda went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in Game 4, a 7-3 Rays win.

So is Kirk being disloyal? Not even close.

The critics are wrong. He showed up for a friend who showed up for him last October, and loyalty to a lifelong friend doesn't cancel loyalty to a team.

It's like skipping the office party to attend your best friend's wedding. Your boss might grumble, but everyone knows which one matters more.

He also gave Toronto plenty on the field. Kirk hit .278 with a .351 on-base percentage in 79 games, one of the few bright spots in a last-place season.

Aranda now heads to the World Series against the Brewers. If he delivers a big hit, don't be surprised to see one Blue Jays catcher smiling as wide as anyone in Tampa Bay.