The Brewers announced Tuesday that they’ve placed Lorenzo Cain on the 10-day disabled list due to a groin strain and recalled fellow outfielder Keon Broxton from Triple-A Colorado Springs in his place. Cain’s placement on the DL is retroactive to Sunday.
Cain, 32, was among the highest-paid free agents of the 2017-18 offseason, landing a five-year, $80MM contract to return to the organization that originally drafted him in the 17th round back in 2004. Thus far, that investment has paid off in spades, as Cain is enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his career and is playing his usual bland of outstanding defense.
In 312 plate appearances, Cain is hitting .291/.394/.438 with eight homers, 15 doubles and 16 steals (in 19 attempts). Defensive Runs Saved pegs Cain at +11, while Ultimate Zone Rating is similarly bullish at +7.1. Meanwhile, Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric has Cain tied for third among Major League outfielders, trailing only Delino DeShields Jr. and Adam Engel.
The Brewers didn’t provide a timeline for Cain’s return, though certainly the hope is that he can recover with a minimal DL stint. There’s no indication yet that he’s in line to miss significant time.
In his absence, the Brewers will give Keon Broxton his first look in the Majors this season. A popular offseason trade candidate who ultimately wound up staying put, the 28-year-old Broxton is hitting .263/.336/.431 with nine homers and 24 steals so far in Triple-A. Broxton is know for his tantalizing blend of power and speed, but the center fielder is also among the game’s most strikeout-prone players. He fanned at a 37 percent clip in 707 plate appearances from 2016-17 and is striking out at a 35.6 percent clip in Triple-A this season. That said, a team eyeing outfield help at this year’s deadline could certainly show interest in Broxton, who can be controlled through at least the 2022 season.
CobiEven
Blend not bland.
CobiEven
Or brand.
sigmanj
Correct. Brand.
NotaGM
Keon should be able to produce same output as a replacement….far cheaper too
l41db4ck
Craziness. Broxton’s obp will be about .070 lower, which will be greatly missed.
NotaGM
According to this site a slash line of .220 (like he produced last season) is decent. So he should do just fine.
joepanikatthedisco
Yeah well he literally is a replacement player so 0 WAR makes sense
NotaGM
Hes a lifetime 2.5. Give him a little more credit than 0.
justin-turner overdrive
Brewers are smart to hold onto Broxton literally for this reason, injuries. He’s not a bad second stringer if you need a sub for a couple weeks or longer. He won’t kill you.
justin-turner overdrive
Damn, Cain was on pace for an 8 WAR season this year, hope he’s not out too long.
stubby66
Well give Broxton some time up with the Brewers and let him audition for other teams with him being able to be flipped for younger prospects like they did with Lind.
brewcrew08
I like the thought process. However I’m hoping Broxton isn’t even up long enough to audition. If Cain can make it back in 10-15 days Broxton will be sent back down quick.
kgreene3
Does Broxton have any options left?