ANAHEIM — Andrelton Simmons was diagnosed with a Grade 3 sprain of his left ankle Tuesday, an injury that could sideline the Angels shortstop for weeks and perhaps months.

Simmons suffered the injury on an awkward step lunging toward first base in the Angels’ 3-1 loss to the Twins on Monday. He’s since relied on a pair of crutches to get around and will visit a foot and ankle specialist Wednesday.

With Simmons on the 10-day injured list, the Angels recalled Luis Rengifo from Triple-A Salt Lake. The rookie started at second base Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins. David Fletcher started at shortstop for the third time this season.

Manager Brad Ausmus said Rengifo and veteran Zack Cozart will also see time at shortstop in Simmons’ absence. Albert Pujols batted cleanup Tuesday against the Twins and will do so again Wednesday, Ausmus said.

Simmons described his injury as a low ankle sprain, which is considered less serious than a high ankle sprain. He has a fairly long history with the injury in both ankles; Simmons missed 11 days last year after suffering a Grade 2 right ankle sprain. A grade 3 ankle sprain refers to a complete tear of the ankle ligament. The Angels figure to have a better estimate on when Simmons might return after he meets with the specialist. Estimates of the rehab time range from 6 to 12 weeks, although it can vary widely based on the specifics of the injury.

“Growing up I played a little soccer so I rolled it here and there,” he said of his left ankle. “It never swelled up this bad. Both (ankles), I’ve rolled them enough to where I couldn’t walk for one or two days.”

As the Angels’ primary cleanup hitter this year, Simmons has a .298 batting average, .323 on-base percentage, three home runs and 21 RBIs. His 7.7 percent strikeout rate is the third-lowest among all qualified major league hitters. Only teammates David Fletcher and Tommy La Stella strike out less frequently.

Simmons’ calling card is his glove. The Gold Glove award he won last year was his fourth.

A year ago, Simmons sprained his right ankle tripping on the dugout steps. This injury was no less a fluke.

“You can’t predict those things,” Ausmus said. “It has nothing to do with the maintenance routine of a player who’s trying to beat another guy to the base, not quite getting there and rolling his ankle just as he hit it – those type of things you can’t predict.

“Truth is, you don’t really want the guys playing any other way. You want them to play hard. If we knew he was going to roll his ankle we would’ve said back off, but what type of player do you want, the type who’s going to go all out all the time, or the one who’s going to go at 70 percent when there’s a 70 percent chance of him being safe? I’d rather have the guy who’s going all out all the time.

“It’s extremely unfortunate but I don’t know that I want a different type of Andrelton Simmons. I want that makeup.”

Rengifo is 5 for 34 (.147) in 11 games with the Angels since he debuted in April.

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ALSO

Andrew Heaney will throw one more bullpen before he makes his next start, Ausmus said, but the team has not decided when and where that start will be. Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers is one option. Heaney (elbow) threw 4⅓ innings in a rehab start with Salt Lake on Monday. … Shohei Ohtani was back in the Angels’ lineup one day after he was hit by a pitch on his right ring finger. Ohtani will throw from flat ground Wednesday as previously planned, Ausmus said. … The Angels’ home game on Sept. 1 against Boston, which was originally listed as TBA, will now officially begin at 1:07 p.m. Pacific Time.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Matt Harvey) vs. Twins (LHP Martin Perez), Wednesday, 6 p.m., Fox Sports West, MLB Network