Erick Aybar’s career-worst season took another bad turn when the Braves’ shortstop was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a right-foot contusion.
The veteran was hit in the foot by a pitch in the fourth inning of Friday’s win against the Marlins, and there was swelling overnight at the point of impact.
“He’s having a hard time walking,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Bubba (Braves head trainer Jeff Porter) said it’s a lot like the injury Williams (Perez) got last year in Pittsburgh, very similar to that. It’s just going to be a while before he can torque that thing up again. So, just give him some rest.”
Acquired in the offseason trade that sent shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Angels, Aybar, 32, has been the worst hitter in the major leagues this season. He ranked last among 177 qualifying players in batting average (.182), on-base percentage (.225) and slugging percentage (.209) before Saturday, for a .434 OPS that was 95 points below the next-lowest qualifier in the majors before Saturday.
He was expected to be a quality place-holder at shortstop for all or most of a season until the Braves were ready to call up one of their top shortstop prospects, Dansby Swanson or Ozzie Albies. Instead, Aybar has been the least productive member of a team ranked last in the majors — by wide margins — in runs and OPS.
There will be nearly 100 games remaining on the schedule if he returns after 15 days, and Aybar believes he can salvage a decent season.
“Absolutely, I feel confident that I can turn it around and start producing,” he said.
The Braves needed to make a roster move to accommodate the call-up of pitcher Aaron Blair to make Saturday’s start against the Marlins, but if Aybar hadn’t been injured they would have moved a pitcher to create the spot for Blair.
They planned to go with an extra pitcher on the roster for Saturday’s game only, and the Braves are expected to move a pitcher off the 25-man roster and bring up another infielder before Sunday’s series finale against the Marlins.
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