Blue Jays Sign Hackenberg for Catcher Depth

It's April 17th.

This is Toronto Blue Jays News today, AI-powered updates on your team.

I'm Corey with the story.

Toronto Blue Jays just beefed up their catcher depth after a rough injury to their star

backstop.

Alejandro Kirk, the two-time all-star, had surgery on his right thumb on April 14th, following

a foul tip in a game against the white socks on, April 10th.

He's out at least six weeks, so the team signed free agent Adam Hackenberg, a 26-year-old

veteran, to a minor league deal and sent him straight to Triple A Buffalo.

Hackenberg spent the last five pro-seasons in the Chicago White Sox system, bouncing

between AA and Triple A last year.

His numbers weren't lighting it up, A206 average with a low on base, but he's got real

time behind the plate at the upper levels.

Before this move, the Jays were thin at catcher.

They called up Ricky Brandon Valenzuela from Buffalo right after Kirk went down, and

veteran Tyler Heineman is the backup.

One in the minors, Buffalo only had William C. Monett in CJ Stubbs, both 29 with limited

Triple A experience.

Hackenberg steps in as the most season option there, having caught plenty of games for the

sock's top affiliate over three years.

His slash line there hovered around 218, over 275, slash 301.

With Kirk's eye-mine into June, Hackenberg gets a real shot to lock down that depth

roll, and maybe push for the bigs if things stay shaky.