We all knew it was coming – the break-up of the core – was coming. We knew Lorenzo Cain was going to play in a different uniform. Thursday, it became a reality when Cain inked a 5-year, $80 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, just hours after they traded four minor leaguers for Christian Yelich.
I’m glad he’s getting paid. I’m also glad it’s not the Royals doing it. On the wrong side of 30, Cain is a late bloomer that still has a lot left in the tank after slashing .300/.363/.440 with 15 HR and 26 SB (28 attempts) in 2017 while playing a career-best 155 games.
He’s a career .290/.342/.421 hitter, including .289/.342/.421 in Kansas City. He was an All-Star starter in 2015 in his only All-Star appearance, where he finished third in the AL MVP voting while posting career-high’s with a .307/.361/.477 line, in HR (16), RBI (72), doubles (34), triples (6), SB (28) and OPS (.838). He criminally never won a Gold Glove, despite being an elite in the field.
Cain, like Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, turned down the Royals qualifying offer worth $17.4M. With his signing, it gives the Royals a compensatory pick (TBD) in the early 30’s in the 2018 draft.
Let’s look back at our favorite Cain moments:
No. 9: July 3, 2015 – When he was all of us and laughed at Alex Rios after he took one in the marbles:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
No. 8: July 14, 2015 –Cain goes 2-for-3 with RBI as the American League wins 6-3 in the 2015 All-Star Game in Cincinnati.
No. 7: November 2, 2015 – In the wee hours of the morning, Cain’s bases-clearing 12th-inning double to bust it open in Game 5 of the World Series:
Earlier in the game, he led off the ninth inning, after Matt Harvey talked Terry Collins into going back out for the inning, to try and finish what he started and send the World Series to Game 6, Cain started a rally with a leadoff walk:
No. 6: Lean Back –
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Lorenzo Cain’s exaggerated lean back when displaying power resembles a dude in the box in a slow-pitch beer league, swinging for the fences:
Speaking of that grand slam, it was one of three in his career. It was part of a HR in both games of a double-header day on June 10, 2017 in an 8 DONG month – the best power surge of his career. His first career grand slam came on July 4, 2013and gave us this memorable moment, flexing with Billy Butler’s Rally Sauce:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
His best power display, however, came on May 10, 2016 when he mashed not one, not two, but THREE dongs at Yankee Stadium:
No. 5: Cain – Salvador Perez bromance
If you’re on Instagram, you know the frequency of Salvador Perez’s videos featuring Lorenzo Cain
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
At fan fast, Salvy called LoCain, from the stage:
No. 4: April 23, 2015 – “The Great Cainholio!”
In the first series of the season, tempers flared when White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija hit Lorenzo Cain was hit by a pitch after Mike Moustakas hit an oppo-DONG. More on that. But first, Yordano Ventura. He displayed some struggles with maturity one series later, in Anaheim with superstar Mike Trout:
In his ensuing start, he placed a 99 mph fastball in Brett Lawrie’s ribs:
This was in retaliation of the Brett Lawrie slide, in what was one of the most eventful April series I can remember.
In Ventura’s next start, another incident. After a ground ball back to Ventura from Adam Eaton, Ventura made comments to Eaton and things got out of hand. Punches were thrown, suspensions were handed out, and we got the Great Cainholio.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Cain was one of six players suspended (2 games).
No. 3: 2014 ALDS – Lorenzo Cain’s defense was on display – his coming out party to the rest of the nation. He was no longer a secret known only by Royals fans.
In Game 3, Cain made back-to-back sliding catches in the 5th inning and TBS announcer Ernie Johnson proclaimed, “He did it it again!”
He’s hyped!
In Game 1, he also shined:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
And, Vargy’s reaction was classic:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Basically:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
No. 2: 2014 ALCS – Lorenzo Cain had himself a series (8-15, 2 doubles, 5 runs) and earned MVP honors.
Offense. Defense. Speed.
Game 2 was a prime example; 4-5 at the plate with two runs score and another driven in, plus two huge catches:
No. 1: October 24, 2015 – LoCain scores the go-ahead run in the ALCS-clinching 4-3 Game 6 win:
And then Wade Davis had his Royals moment, when he locked down the Jays after loading the bases for fun in a 2-inning appearance that featured a rain delay over an hour long between innings.
This was not the first time Hosmer scored Cain from first on a single in the postseason. 2014 ALDS Game 5:
Now, Cain goes back to where it all started – where they traded Cain + Alcides Escobar along with Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress for Zack Greinke.
Cain will always have love for Kansas City: “It was a blast. I’m so glad we were able to bring home a World Championship for Kansas City. I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget the feeling of winning it all. I’ll never forget the parade. Man, that was so special.”
“I absolutely love Royals fans. They loved on me for so many years. Just thinking of them brings a smile to my face.”
We we will always remember that infectious smile:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
We can see it when the Brewers come to town for two games April 24-25 and we can give LoCain one more standing ovation.
#ForeverRoyal
***
Follow us on Twitter: @KCSportsNation
Like us on Facebook
Follow Brian on Twitter: @briangraham624
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
