Lorenzo Cain goes through on-field workout while recovering from hamstring injury

Lorenzo Cain was only at his locker a few seconds when he was asked by reporters if he had time to talk.

“Sorry guys,” Cain said. “I gotta go to work.”

With that, Cain was off before Friday’s game, leaving the clubhouse to continue his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained June 28.

“He’s focused on getting back out,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He wants to do everything he can do to get back out on that field.”

That included a sacrifice on Thursday, as he stayed in Kansas City while the rest of his teammates traveled to Washington to meet President Barack Obama at the White House.

It might turn out to be a beneficial decision. After feeling fatigue in the hamstring on Tuesday — Yost said he “worked it too hard” — Cain rested Wednesday.

“It’s not a setback by any stretch of the imagination, but he came in and did treatment on it (Thursday),” Yost said. “It felt better.”

A few hours before Friday’s game, Cain tested his left leg on the field. Outfielders coach Rusty Kuntz hit fly balls to Cain’s left and right, which forced him to range in each direction.

Cain, who wore shorts during the workout, later practiced baserunning. He ran to first after taking a swing with no bat, then a minute later, simulated getting a break to second on a stolen base. He finished the workout by running second to home without any noticeable issues.

“Rusty said he looked a lot better,” Yost said. “We’re making progress.”

The team has not yet picked a date to start Cain’s rehab assignment, with Yost saying the team was still “day to day” on that decision.

The Royals certainly could use Cain’s offensive production considering their recent struggles. Over the last 30 days, the team’s on-base plus slugging percentage is .713, which ranks worst in the American League and 26th in the majors.

“He’s a pretty big offensive piece to our lineup,” Yost said. “When that leg gets right, we’ll be glad to have him back.”

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Lorenzo Cain goes through on-field workout while recovering from hamstring injury."