Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain has been called up for action on Saturday, the team announced ahead of their game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Cain, 36, hit .179 in 145 at-bats while the Brewers’ offense struggled throughout June. The veteran was 4-for-26 with no walks and seven strikeouts this month. As a team, the Brewers are ranked 14th in the National League OPS in June while falling from first place after a strong start.
Cain broke into the Brewers in 2010 and then spent the next seven seasons in Kansas City before returning to Milwaukee as a free agent in 2018. He is in the final season of a five-year, $80 million contract. The move comes on the same day that Cain spent 10 years in the major leagues.
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“It’s just gotten to a point where it’s probably about time,” Cain said in Cincinnati. “I didn’t play the way I would have liked, but the situation is what it is. I’ve had a great career. I can’t really get excited about anything, but yeah, it’s about time. I wish the best to all my teammates, coaches, coaches, everyone I’ve played with or met throughout my career, I wish them all the best. It was definitely a really fun ride for me.
Cain is a two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. He also finished in the top 10 in MVP voting twice in his career.
“There’s no doubt he played his part,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “In the end it was time for it. It was just time.”
Cain was replaced on the roster by journeyman outfielder Jonathan Davis, who was called up from Triple-A Nashville.
“I would say it was mutual to break up,” he said. “We have a really good team. I don’t think I contributed as much as I would like. I feel like they definitely had to make a move. I definitely would have liked to have played a lot better – the team contributed a bit more to that – but unfortunately that wasn’t the case this year.
“It was fun at the end of the day. I think this team can go really far. They’re trained really well and managed well. These guys are playing their hearts out. I’ll definitely miss them. It’s definitely been a fun ride.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.