Center fielder Lorenzo Cain informed the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, Aug. 1 that he is electing not to play the rest of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cain had appeared in five games, hitting .333 and scoring four runs. He won the Gold Glove last season.
The Brewers' home opener at Miller Park against the St. Louis Cardinals scheduled for Friday night was postponed when members of the Cardinals tested positive for the coronavirus. The teams were expected to play a doubleheader on Sunday to make it up, but a report of more positive tests for the Cardinals has the entire weekend series in question.
Milwaukee (3-3) released a statement acknowledging Cain's decision.
"Lorenzo Cain has informed us that he will not participate for the remainder of the 2020 season. We fully support Lorenzo's decision, and will miss his talents on the field and leadership in the clubhouse," it read.
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Cain, 34, is unlikely to receive any portion of his salary for this season unless he is determined to be a high-risk individual, but he will have two years remaining on the five-year, $80 million contract he signed in January 2018.
More Cardinals test positive
Multiple members of the St. Louis Cardinals traveling party were positive for COVID-19 on preliminary tests, forcing the postponement of Saturday's scheduled game in Milwaukee against the Brewers.
In a statement issued Saturday afternoon, Major League Baseball said rapid tests indicated one player and an unspecified number of staff members could be positive. The team was awaiting results of saliva tests sent to a laboratory for confirmation.
The Cardinals confirmed Friday that two players tested positive before the team left Minnesota, where they concluded a series on Wednesday.
The spread of COVID-19 to the Cardinals forced Major League Baseball to reschedule Friday night's game, the Brewers' home opener at Miller Park, to part of a doubleheader on Sunday. The fate of the Sunday doubleheader remains unknown, and MLB said it would "provide additional updates as information becomes available."
No makeup date for Saturday's game was announced.
