What a night, what a story, what a catcher. Brandon Valenzuela has kicked the door down. Tuesday’s walk-off single in the Blue Jays’ 3-2 win over the Phillies at Rogers Centre was his finest moment yet. But the 25-year-old rookie is showing that he’s ready to be Alejandro Kirk’s tandem mate already, with Kirk expected to return later this week. What a find, too, for the Blue Jays, with one of their savviest trades in years. **Behind the breakout: Valenzuela’s bat** Manager John Schneider’s recent scouting report captures what has happened here. “We all knew he could catch,” Schneider said, “but the offensive part ...” As a prospect, Valenzuela profiled as a defense-first backup in the big leagues. He came to the Blue Jays in the Will Wagner deal a year ago with a reputation as a good blocker and framer who could control the run game, and maybe -- just maybe -- he could tap into some more power. That “maybe” so rarely comes true in the world of prospects, but this is what it looks like. Through 45 games, Valenzuela is batting .252 with seven home runs and a .799 OPS. This won’t last forever and the league will adjust, but a strong defensive catcher with some pop can live a long, happy life in the big leagues. Valenzuela has worked tirelessly with the Blue Jays’ hitting staff since arriving, some of it mechanical but some of it also more philosophical. Valenzuela is a big, strong individual, so there’s no sense trying to slap a single the other way. Toronto’s staff has urged Valenzuela to “be more physical” and take chances. The combination of Valenzuela’s confidence -- which is never short -- and the momentum of his on-field production is a dangerous thing.
