Fletcher out 'a couple months' after surgery

ANAHEIM -- Angels middle infielder David Fletcher underwent surgery to repair both his left and right adductor muscles and will be out for a couple months but isn’t expected to be out for the season, head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said Tuesday.

Fletcher was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained left hip on Sunday and flew to Philadelphia on Monday to be evaluated. Fletcher had been bothered by the injury since late in Spring Training and this was his second stint on the IL with the injury, as he also missed 17 days after being placed on the IL on April 12. After the examination, it was determined that Fletcher needed to have both adductor muscles repaired as well as his rectus abdominis, which is informally known as the abs muscle.

“Really, it’s a core muscle injury, all relating around the hip area,” Frostad said. “He’s recovering well. We’re hoping he’ll be back within a couple months. The surgeon is very optimistic. He's done hundreds of these procedures and he's seen guys come back with no issues.”

Frostad explained the injury is more common with hockey players, but that it can be an issue with baseball players as well. Fletcher tried to play through the injury with the help of cortisone shots but it was still affecting him defensively and when he ran the bases, necessitating a surgical procedure.

Fletcher, who signed a five-year extension worth $26 million before last season, is batting .158/.220/.263 with two doubles and two RBIs in 14 games this year. He started the year as the club’s starting shortstop and started six games, also making five starts at second base.

With Fletcher out until roughly July, the Angels will lean on a combination of Andrew Velazquez, Tyler Wade, Jack Mayfield and Luis Rengifo in the middle infield. Velazquez has emerged as the starting shortstop because of his dazzling defense, while Wade, Mayfield and Rengifo will be in the mix at second base.