Lorenzo Cain Is Kansas City Royals’ October MVP
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Most Kansas City Royals fans didn’t expect much from the trade that took place on December 19, 2010. The Royals got Lorenzo Cain, along with Alcides Escobar, from the Milwaukee Brewers for staff ace Zack Greinke. Little did fans realize that trade would pay off so much in 2014.
This season, Cain has been a big part of the Royals’ success, hitting .301 with five home runs, 53 RBIs, 58 runs and 28 stolen bases. Those aren’t staggering numbers, but they sure did help the Royals reach the playoffs for the first time in 28 years.
Cain has been even better in the playoffs. He is the first Royals player since Hall-of-Famer George Brett to have four hits in a playoff game, going 4-for-5 in Game 2 of the ALCS. Cain is batting an amazing .750 in the ALCS, and he’s hitting at a .370 rate in the playoffs with eight runs, four RBIs and two stolen bases. Not too shabby for a guy who was selected in the 17th round of the draft in 2004.
Cain is one heck of a defensive outfielder, too.
He made an amazing grab in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the ALCS, robbing the Baltimore Orioles‘ J.J. Hardy of extra bases when the game was tied at four. He made another big grab in the seventh inning to end an Orioles rally. His glove work has been on display throughout the postseason.
During the regular season, Cain was second in the AL with 24 runs saved with his defense. He had just two errors in 348 chances this season, along with eight outfield assists. In his four-year career, Cain has only committed 11 errors for a .988 fielding percentage.
There is no doubt that Cain has been the Royals’ postseason MVP, and there is a good argument he was the regular season MVP too. I wonder what the Brewers are thinking now about trading him away as they sit at home during another October. They have long said goodbye to Greinke, and can only sit and watch Cain and Escobar lead the Royals closer to a World Series appearance.
Nate Vandergrift is a Pirates writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter@natevandergrift, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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