Angels' Fletcher out several months following adductor surgery

Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher underwent surgery Tuesday to repair the adductor muscles in both his legs and will be out several months, the team announced.

The Angels didn't give an exact timetable, but the club expects Fletcher to return this season.

"Really, it's a core muscle injury, all relating around the hip area," Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. "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."

Fletcher was placed on the injured list Sunday with what the team first called a hip strain. It marked the second time he had landed on the IL with that specific injury. He was struggling offensively, recording just six hits in 41 plate appearances before getting hurt.

The 27-year-old signed a five-year, $26-million extension with the Angels before last season. While he was looked upon as the team's second baseman of the future, he hasn't been able to replicate his breakout 2020 campaign since inking the deal. Fletcher earned down-ballot MVP votes during the pandemic-shortened campaign but followed that up by posting a career-worst .622 OPS in 2021.

During his absence, the Halos will likely continue to rely on Andrew Velazquez, Tyler Wade, Jack Mayfield, and Luis Rengifo to man the middle infield positions.