LoCain Designated For Assignment | Could Be Final MLB Season

LoCain Designated For Assignment | Could Be Final MLB Season

by | Jun 20, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

Here is a tip of the cap to Lorenzo Cain who was Designated For Assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend in what could be his last season in the majors.

Cain’s time in Milwaukee came to an end Saturday after hitting .179 with a .231 on base percentage, nine RBI, two steals and a home run through 43 games this season.

Injuries have plagued Cain over the last three seasons as he only played in 126 games over that span.

Regardless of how it ended, Cain will be remembered as one of baseball’s best outfielders to play during the 2010s.

After signing a five-year $80 million deal with the Brewers before the 2018 season, Cain hit .270 with 30 home runs, 133 RBI and 63 steals in four seasons with the team.

He made the All-Star team for the second time in his career in 2018 and won the only Gold Glove of his career in 2019, the same year he opened with what may be the best catch of his career as he robbed a home run for the final out of a one run game on Opening Day.

Cain was originally drafted by the Brewers in the 17th round of the 2004 draft out of Tallahassee Community College.

He made his debut in 2010, playing in 43 games and batting .306 for Milaukee.

Then before the 2011 season he was traded to the Kansas City Royals as part of one of the most important trades in their franchise history, when then Ace Zack Greinke was sent to the Brewers in exchange for Cain, former MLBbro reliever Jeremy Jeffress and Alcides Escobar.

All three players played major roles during the Royals World Series Championship run which may have been one of the most improbable in recent sports history.

In 2014, the year the Royals would ultimately end up losing in the World Series to the San Francisco Giants Cain hit .301 and stole 28 bases.

His four hits in the American League Championship Series against Baltimore tied him with George Brett for most in a playoff game in franchise history as he would go on to win the series MVP award.

Then after making his first All-Star team in 2015, finishing with what are still career highs in RBI, doubles, triples and home runs, he helped lead Kansas City to their second World Series in franchise history.

Cain respected the game and for that the Brewers showed it back with one of the classiest moves you will ever see by a professional organization.

“If It’s My Last Year… I’ve Had A Great Career”| Lorenzo Cain Is Looking To Retire On His Terms, With One Last World Series Run

 

By waiting until Cain got his full 10 years of service time in Major League Baseball he is able to receive his full vested pension which will pay him $7,500 a month.

There is still a chance Cain can be traded or picked up by another team, but that remains to be seen as he has said he wanted to take time to speak with family about his next steps.

The Brewers called up MLBbro outfielder Jonathan Davis from Triple A Nashville to take Cain’s roster spot.

LoCain Designated For Assignment | Could Be Final MLB Season

“If It’s My Last Year… I’ve Had A Great Career”| Lorenzo Cain Is Looking To Retire On His Terms, With One Last World Series Run

by | May 22, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

When the Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Lorenzo Cain to a five-year $80 million contract back in 2018, the team wanted to capitalize on the production the Kansas City Royals MLBbro was providing over several seasons. The peak of that incredible run was in 2015, when Cain finished third in the MVP race and helped the Royals to a World Series Championship.

 

 

Things were still on a high note for Lorenzo in his first couple of seasons in Milwaukee. In his first season, Cain was an All-Star and followed that up with his first career Gold Glove award in 2019. Then everything changed.

After opting out of the 2020 COVID season, multiple injuries have dogged him as he approaches the final season of his contract. 78 missed games due to a left quad strain and a right hamstring strain brought looming questions of Cain calling it quits when his contract is up.

 

Lorenzo Cain’s Milwaukee Farewell Tour Is Off To Slow Start

 

MLB.com Brewers reporter Adam McCalvy took to social media back in March and said that Lorenzo leaving the game is a possibility. 

 

Cain went on record talking about his future, but not overlooking the day-to-day responsibilities going into this season, via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“It’s going to be interesting,” he told reporters. “I’m going to go out here and give it my all. My goal is to stay healthy the entire season, and I kind of let everything else take care of itself.

“We’ll go through this year, give it my all and see what happens. And whatever happens next year, we’ll kind of go from there.”

While our MLBbro is approaching his 36th birthday, the center fielder, along with Brewers newcomer Andrew McCutchen, is considered one of the veteran leaders for a team set to make a World Series run. 

 

 

Despite Cain’s slow start at the plate, he is still dominant on defense which shows his Gold Glove winning abilities have not eroded. He is tied for the MLB lead in Defensive Runs Saved among center fielders, with a 92 percentile in Outs Above Average. It shows the level of commitment to the offseason work this MLBbro put in after a season derailed by leg injuries. 

 

“I did a lot of running. I did everything possible to make sure these legs are ready to go,” he said. “A lot of conditioning, a lot of running, a lot of working out. Even went to see the PT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the morning to make sure my knees and everything else is good.  

“Now it’s about going out here on the field and hopefully all of the work pays off and we go out here and get it done.”

The Milwaukee Brewers are currently in first place in the National League Central Division. This will buy some time for Cain to improve on his uncharacteristic slash of .182/.247/.216 at the plate. If not, he could be stashed on the IL to get him ready for the post season. At this point, Cain is 14 dingers away from 100 for his career and 55 RBI from an even 500, so he has some milestones to look forward to. 

No matter if he leaves the game this year or not, he always has time for the fans. He bought drinks for the fans during the Marlins series a week ago in the “This Ones On Me ” tour.

No matter what happens, our MLBbro, Lorenzo Cain will be leaving on his terms which is a great thing within itself.

“If it’s my last year, it’s my last year. “I’ve had a great career,” Cain reflected. “I’ve done everything possible that I can think of throughout my career and I have accomplished a lot. So, I’m happy if it’s my last year.”

Lorenzo Cain’s Milwaukee Farewell Tour Is Off To Slow Start

Lorenzo Cain’s Milwaukee Farewell Tour Is Off To Slow Start

by | Apr 25, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

Milwaukee Brewers veteran outfielder Lorenzo Cain has been in the league for quite some time now.

The 2015 World Series champion with Kansas City has established himself as a reliable and effective player in the field and at the plate.

As well as a dependable veteran leader in the clubhouse.

Cain is in his fifth season with the Brewers and let’s be real, he’s been struggling since the season started.

Lorenzo Cain Is Finally Healthy & Ready To Lead Brew Crew Into Post Season

This is also a critical season for Cain as he’s in the final year of his contract. And with his struggles at the plate, things aren’t looking too good for our MLBbro.

In 10 games this season, Cain is hitting a dismal .161 with six strikeouts.

Cain does not know what is in store for his future but no matter what he’s going to play his heart out every time he steps on that field.

“I’m still unsure about that right now,” Cain said in an article from www.fox6now.com. “I’m going to go out here and give it my all,” he said. “Hopefully we can get to the playoffs. Hopefully get to the World Series if it is my last year.”

Cain’s teammates know how much of an impact he can make on the field.

“I think everyone in this clubhouse and this organization knows his value to this team on the field and off the field,” infielder Keston Hiura said. “Obviously, we all see what he does on the field defensively and what he does in the clubhouse, I think is even more.”

These past few seasons have been tough for Cain as he’s dealt with numerous injuries last year and plus he sat out most of the COVID-shortened season in 2020.

But one thing Cain has done despite his struggles, is battle through adversity.

During the 2021 season, he finished hitting .257 with eight home runs and 36 RBI. He did that despite missing significant time due to injuries.

When he returned from his injuries last season, Cain wasted no time making an impact on the team.

Cain knows that injuries have played a key role in his absence during his career, and unfortunately that’s just part of the game.

“You know me, I just want to play games and that depends on my health,” Cain said. “If I’m healthy, I’ll be on the field.”

Cain is the type of player who will go full throttle unless he’s in a hospital bed and if he’s on the field then he’ll help out the promising Brewers in positions to win games.

Though he’s been struggling at the start of the season, there’s no doubt that Cain can turn things around.

It’s a long season and the two-time all-star will have plenty of opportunities to make a positive impact for the Brewers and see himself appearing in more games.

 

 

 

 

Lorenzo Cain Shows No Sign Of Weakness In The Brewers Game 3 NLDS Loss

Lorenzo Cain Shows No Sign Of Weakness In The Brewers Game 3 NLDS Loss

by | Oct 12, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

Lorenzo Cain went all out for the Brewers, but his team still lost to the Braves in Game 3 of the back-and-forth National League Divisional Series.

After an injury-plagued season, Cain showed no weaknesses on Monday night.

Milwaukee now trails the series 2-1, but it’s good to see our MLBbro back healthy and in the lineup for the Milwaukee Brewers during the National League Division Series.

In Game 3, the Brewers fell to the Atlanta Braves 3-0, which leaves the Braves one win away from advancing to the next round.

While the Brewers lost to the Braves for the second straight time and Cain went 0-for-3 at the plate, he still left it all on the field, as he always does.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cain went all out as he attempted to make a catch in right center.

 

The veteran went full speed trying to catch a ball hit off of Adam Duvall’s bat. Cain was able to catch the ball but as he collided into the fence the ball popped out of his glove.

Though he wasn’t able to come up with the catch, just the effort alone is what you love to see from Cain.

For a brief moment, it looked as if Cain may have injured himself, but he knew in his mind that he was not coming out of the game.

This is how he plays day in and day out.

There’s a reason why he’s a Gold Glove Award winner. This brother is not afraid to go all out and make a big time play.

This is what the Brewers have been missing during the regular season, but now they don’t have to worry about that, since Cain is back.

And this brother is glad to be back in the playoffs.

“This year has been a tough year for me,” Cain told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “A lot of injuries, starting in spring training. A quad injury and a hamstring injury. So, yeah, it’s been a tough season. But I worked my butt off to get back on the field – just in time for the playoffs, I guess.”

“Just going out there, grinding with the boys and just trying to produce and contribute to this team.”

During the NLDS, Cain has only one hit in nine at bats, but he continues to provide that spark out in the field.

That’s one thing you won’t have to worry about getting from him.