The Cleveland Guardians are hoping to take some pressure off Steven Kwan with him out of the leadoff spot.
Ever since Steven Kwan took over at the top of the Cleveland Guardians lineup shortly after his big league debut in 2022, he has been one of MLB’s best leadoff hitters. He even led off for the American League during the 2024 All-Star Game.
However, after being in that spot for nearly four years, Cleveland made the decision to move him back in the lineup.
For the Guardians' matchup with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday evening, Kwan was in as the team’s six-hole hitter as Daniel Schneemann moved into the leadoff spot.
Simply looking at Kwan’s stats, this move was long overdue for the Guardians. The 28-year-old owns just a mere .204/.312/.259 slash line with a 63 OPS+ on the season.
“Obviously, Kwany hasn’t got off to the start that I think he wanted or we wanted and, just looking for ways to get him going,” said manager Stephen Vogt.
“He’s done everything we’ve ever asked of him. We’ve been having conversations over the last few weeks. It’s not like all of a sudden I talked to him for the first time tonight. But I do think there’s maybe a little element of relief (for him), but also, ‘Let’s go. It’s time to go.’ And he knows that and we need Kwany to be at his best and we’re here to support and help him get back to that.”
May 16, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) takes a lead off second base in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn ImagesThe goal is that, with Kwan hitting further back in the lineup, he can focus on simply driving runs in, instead of the pressure that comes with setting the tone for the lineup from the get-go.
Vogt continued, “He’s been great with runners in scoring position, so kind of trying to find that sweet spot in the middle of the order where, hopefully, Kwany gets up with some guys on base, find some feeling, find some rhythm, kind of take that leadoff approach and kind of put that on the back burner for a little while.”
As of Friday evening, Kwan has a .729 OPS with runners on second and/or third base.
Even though Kwan was hitting sixth on Saturday, Vogt doesn’t view this change as something long-term for him or the team.
“I definitely don’t think this is a permanent change. I think we all know that when Steven Kwan’s at his best and he’s in the leadoff spot, that’s when we’re at our best and that’s the goal. [It was a] tough conversation, not an easy decision, but just felt like it was the right time.”
With Kwan out as the team’s leadoff hitter, who will take his spot at the top of the lineup?
Vogt made it clear the team won’t plan to have a set leadoff hitter, but develop a game plan to beat the starter that night.
Schneemann is definitely an intriguing option, Angel Martinez has had previous success in that role, and Travis Bazzana is likely destined for that spot in the lineup at some point during his career.
Hopefully, with some pressure from Kwan at the top of the order, he can get back on track to being the All-Star caliber hitter the Guardians have seen from him in the past.
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