But as one of the best outfielders in baseball stretches and squats, sprints and sweats, he blends in. He wears a gray shirt and black shorts, black socks and gray shoes. He carries a bottle of water.

With pitchers and catchers reporting this week and spring training opening in earnest next week — Cain and the Kansas City Royals have their first full workout on Feb. 23 — he will soon end his workouts at OU and leave his home in Norman. Even the most ardent sports fans in Oklahoma might not know he was here for the past three months.

He likes it that way, too.

"I'm a very laid back guy," Cain said as he sat on the artificial turf after a recent morning workout. "I like to be behind the scenes. I let all the other guys have the spotlight.

"Something that I enjoy is coming back here, living in Norman."