Lorenzo Cain’s Gold Glove drought is finally over.
After being a finalist four times, the Brewers centerfielder earned his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Sunday night. Cain was the runner-up in 2018 to the Braves’ Ender Inciarte.
World Series champion Victor Robles of the Nationals and Harrison Bader of the Cardinals were the other 2019 National League centerfielder finalists.
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The annual award is given to players who have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each position. Rays centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier won the honor for the American League.
Cain had a .994 fielding percentage with five outfield assists and only two errors. According to FanGraphs, he was credited with 20 defensive runs saved during the season.
Cain made several spectacular plays defensively this season, including taking away a home run from the Cardinals’ Jose Martinez with a game-saving catch on opening day and two sensational catches vs. the Rockies on Sept. 28 as the Brewers pursued a postseason berth.
After the Rockies game, Brewers pitcher Gio Gonzalez supported Cain:
“It’s about damn time he gets that Gold Glove. I don’t know if we have to literally go to Tiffany’s or wherever we have to go to buy this Gold Glove for him. He needs this Gold Glove. That guy deserves it and hands down is one of the best outfielders in the game. Give him his damn Gold Glove already.”
Cain earned the honor from NL managers and coaches, who were not allowed to vote for players on their team. The Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Defensive Index also was used in the process.
The 33-year-old Cain was banged-up all season. He had a right thumb injury that required cryotherapy treatments in June and a sore left knee and left ankle sprain during the final stretch.
But Cain always remained positive, even during his offensive struggles (.260 batting average, 106 strikeouts).
“I’m good. I’ll be out there tomorrow,” Cain told The Athletic Wisconsin during the season. “You know if I’m not out there, something must be really wrong.”
Cain was drafted by the Brewers in the 17th round in 2004. He was traded to the Royals in 2010 before rejoining the Brewers as a free agent in 2018.
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Cain joins Cecil Cooper, Carlos Gomez, Sixto Lezcano, George Scott and Robin Yount as Brewers who have won a Gold Glove.
(Photo of Cain: Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports)
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