Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain spent his offseason back home in Oklahoma, sweating through sprint workouts and counting up 100-yard gassers. The running was quite miserable. He pushed himself to the point of exhaustion. Yet he considered it essential, a type of preventative medicine entering a crucial season.
For years, Cain had followed a strict workout regimen in the winter. He focused on strengthening the muscles in his legs. He re-shaped his running form and gait. He attempted to rid himself of the nagging leg injuries that robbed him of so many games early in his career.
But after being limited to just 103 games in 2016, Cain re-tooled his regimen once again.