ANAHEIM — David Fletcher is headed back to the injured list.

The Angels infielder is out again with a recurrence of the left hip strain that sidelined him in the first month of the season, and this time he may need surgery to repair it.

Fletcher said Sunday he’s heading to see a specialist in Philadelphia on Monday, and that surgery is “on the table.” Fletcher said he expects to be back this season, even if he has surgery.

“Obviously it’s not ideal, but we’ll hopefully get it fixed and be back pretty soon,” Fletcher said.

It is another setback for Fletcher, who has yet to return to his level from 2018-20. Although he had a 26-game hitting streak in the middle of last season, he ended up posting a .622 OPS. This season, he had a .483 OPS, including a .158 batting average.

Fletcher said the injury “limits me a little defensively and base running and a kind of a little bit of everything.”

Fletcher said he first felt the hip issue right at the end of spring training. He played five games and went on the injured list. During his first time out, he saw the specialist and had a series of cortisone injections.

Fletcher returned just before the last trip, at Chicago. Playing for a week apparently showed him and the Angels that he needed more time.

“It hasn’t really gotten worse,” Fletcher said. “It just wasn’t as good as we thought the injection stuff would make it.”

The Angels recalled infielder Luis Rengifo to take Fletcher’s spot on the roster.

Rengifo has been up and down between the majors and Triple-A for a few seasons. He started this season at Triple-A and produced a .909 OPS in 112 plate appearances. He was playing mostly shortstop, with some second and third.

WHITEFIELD UP

The Angels called Aaron Whitefield up from Double-A to provide outfield depth. Since they sent down Jo Adell, they have had only three true outfielders on the roster, so Whitefield gives them a fourth.

He took the roster spot of lefty reliever Kenny Rosenberg, who was sent to Triple-A.

Whitefield hits right-handed, so he could be a natural platoon partner for left-handed hitting Brandon Marsh. Marsh has a career .515 OPS against lefties, including .318 in 20 plate appearances this season.

Whitefield, a 25-year-old Australian, made his big-league debut in 2020 with the Minnesota Twins. He had just one at-bat.

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This season at Double-A, he was hitting .301 with a .938 OPS.

The Angels also put Jose Rojas on the injured list, with no injury designation. Players on the COVID-related injured list do not count against the 40-man roster, so Rojas clears a spot for Whitefield.

LAGARES RETURNS

On the day the Angels brought up Whitefield, they signed a veteran player who could serve the same role once he’s ready.

The Angels signed Juan Lagares to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Triple-A. Lagares, 33, spent last season with the Angels, hitting .236 with a .638 OPS in 112 games with the Angels last season. He did not get a big league job over the winter.

Lagares hits right-handed and plays all three outfield spots, so he could also be a platoon partner with Marsh.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Noah Syndergaard, 2-1, 2.63) vs. Rays (TBD), 6:38 p.m. Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM