Jays’ Alejandro Kirk (thumb) injured by foul tip, set for X-rays

CHICAGO — Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk took himself out of Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox in the 10th inning Friday, when he was struck on his glove hand by a foul tip off the bat of Austin Hays.

Kirk walked off the field with the Blue Jays’ training staff while he was holding his injured hand.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after the team’s 5-4 loss that Kirk was undergoing X-rays and the extent of his injury was not yet known.

“It’s more thumb,” Schneider, a former catcher, said. “It sucks. That hurts, especially on a cold day. So, just hoping that it’s nothing serious. He’s about as tough as they come, so for him to come out, you don’t love it.”

Toronto led 4-3 when Kirk was replaced by Tyler Heineman. With one out and automatic runner Miguel Vargas on third, Hays struck out against Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman.

Derek Hill, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the eighth inning, laid down a bunt, which Heineman fielded but threw wide to first. HIll advanced to second, and Vargas scored the tying run on the error.

Chicago manager Will Venable encouraged Hill to bunt “if they’re playing back.” The Blue Jays’ change at catcher also influenced the decision.

“Like, [Venable] said, if they’re playing back, and you got a new guy coming in, you never know,” Hill said. “Put the ball in play and good things happen. I just wanted to try and get it a little bit down the third-base side.”

One pitch later, Chicago’s Tristan Peters stroked a single to right, plating Hill for the walk-off win. In the Blue Jays’ clubhouse, the talk was about Kirk’s injury and Hill’s bunt.

“It’s tough play for a catcher, especially coming in right there cold,” Schneider said. “[Heineman] was ready to go. We know Hill is a bunt threat.”

According to Schneider, if Kirk, a two-time All-Star, has to miss time, he’d likely be replaced by Brandon Valenzuela, a 25-year-old who started the season in Triple-A and is on Toronto’s 40-man roster. Valenzuela has yet to make his big league debut.