Brewers Gold Glove center fielder Lorenzo Cain announced today that he will opt out of the remaining 2020 baseball season due to concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

"After careful consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to opt out of the remainder of the 2020 season," Cain said, in a statement. "With all of the uncertainty and unknowns surrounding our game at this time, I feel that this is the best decision for me, my wife, and our three kids. The Brewers organization was very understanding and supportive of my decision, and I thank them for that. I wish all of my great teammates the best of luck this season and look forward to getting back on the field in 2021. Please stay safe."

"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," announced Brewers president of baseball operations and general manager David Stearns, in a statement.

The news comes after the Brewers' last two games were postponed due to their opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals, having several team members test positive for COVID-19 in recent days. The teams are still scheduled to play a double-header on Sunday; however, according to MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal, four to six additional Cardinals have since tested positive, putting those games at risk as well.

Since the season started just over a week ago, six teams – the Brewers, Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals – are currently inactive and either postponing or canceling games due to the pandemic. Seventeen games thus far have been postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus, the Miami Marlins have suffered 18 total cases since the season started and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has warned that the already shortened 60-game season may shutdown if the league can't do a better job of containing and keeping COVID-19 away from its players and team members. 

With Cain's announcement, 16 players have now chosen to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 – including popular names like Dodgers pitcher David Price, Giants catcher Buster Posey, Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond and Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more updates on the state of the baseball season and when (or if) the Brewers return to the diamond.