Lorenzo Cain to DL. Jarrod Dyson Up.

On Tuesday night, Lorenzo Cain made a long, running catch in centerfield to rob Daric Barton of at least a double. After the play, though, he came away favoring his leg and played one more inning but gave way to Mitch Maier as a pinch hitter.

The Royals said Cain strained his groin and he sat out Wednesday’s game. The team said Cain’s day off was planned anyway and not to worry. Today they placed him on the disabled list retroactive to yesterday and recalled Jarrod Dyson from Omaha. The move prevents him from re-aggravating the injury and missing further time.

Cain had two hits in fifteen at bats in the early season but his defense had an impact, as his speed put him in range of many balls that Melky Cabrera likely wouldn’t have caught up to last year. Dyson brings similar speed, as does Jason Bourgeois, though neither have the arm that Cain does (which is about average). Maier has a stronger arm but not quite the speed.

Dyson was 12-33 in Omaha and was successful in all six stolen base attempts.

Ned Yost hinted that Dyson will play the majority of the time in center while Cain is out. My vote would have went to Mitch Maier, who’s a more well-rounded player and has filled in as a regular when injuries have hit in the past. Defensively, the Royals can’t miss with any of the three candidates. Dyson still has to prove he can hit at the big league level. If he gets most of the time in center over the next two weeks, he’ll have his chance to show one  way or the other.

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