Braves' Erick Aybar sedated, has chicken bone removed from throat

Erick Aybar's tough 2016 season didn't get any better Thursday.

The Atlanta Braves shortstop was removed from the starting lineup for Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after a chicken bone got stuck in his throat. Manager Brian Snitker said Aybar arrived at PNC Park on Thursday afternoon in discomfort and was taken to a doctor, sedated and had the bone removed.

Aybar was in the Braves' original lineup but was replaced by Daniel Castro, who went 0-for-4 in Atlanta's 8-2 loss.

"That poor guy had to be scared to death," Snitker told reporters, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "He looked OK when he left, but I don't think he's feeling very good. Let's just hope everything works out all right."

According to the newspaper, one Braves player said Aybar had some blood coming from his mouth and was unable to lift his shoulder because the bone had caused so much discomfort.

It has been a rough season for Aybar, and the Braves as a whole.

The veteran shortstop is hitting just .174 with five RBIs and a .412 OPS. The Braves, meanwhile, fired manager Fredi Gonzalez earlier this week after a baseball-worst 9-28 start. Snitker is filling in as the team's interim manager.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.