Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said shortstop Erick Aybar’s early defensive struggles could have to do with Aybar getting accustomed to playing on a new field after spending all 10 previous big-league seasons with the Angels.
Aybar noted that the Braves played only four games through the first week.
“I’m trying to make the plays but the season is just beginning,” Aybar said through an interpreter.
Aybar’s struggles are more pronounced because he’s replacing Andrelton Simmons, who developed into one of the best defenders in baseball during three-plus seasons with the Braves. The Braves traded Simmons to the Angels in December as part of a deal that brought back Aybar.
Aybar has been a solid fielder over his career but committed two errors in his first four games with the Braves. His first miscue, a throwing error in the first inning on opening day, didn’t result in any runs for the Nationals but his second error led to an unearned run against the Cardinals on Saturday.
Aybar also had trouble handling Stephen Piscotty’s two-out ground ball in the fourth inning on Saturday and threw wide to first baseman Freddie Freeman as a run scored. The play was ruled a hit.
“It was just a tough play,” Aybar said. “I was playing deep in the hole and it took a funky hop.”
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