Delgado on DL with hip injury

NEW YORK, May 16 (UPI) -- A painful right hip injury has forced the New York Mets to place slugger Carlos Delgado on their 15-day disabled list.

The move is retroactive to May 10.

In 26 games this season, Delgado is batting .298 with four home runs and 23 RBI.

His injury, called an impingement, has led to a slight muscle tear and bone spur, the Mets said on their Web site Saturday.

He has not played since last Sunday's 8-4 victory against Pittsburgh, and will be re-evaluated by team doctors in New York early next week.

Team doctors are unclear about whether Delgado will need surgery to repair the problem, but just in case, they have used both Daniel Murphy and Jeremy Reed at first base.

Outfielder Angel Pagan was called up from Class AAA Buffalo to fill Delgado's roster spot.

Pagan had surgery in mid-March to remove a bone spur from his right or throwing elbow.