After a slow start for the Cleveland Guardians, Steven Kwan is showing signs of turning his season around.
It's no secret whatsoever that Steven Kwan has gotten off to a slow start. The Cleveland Guardians leadoff hitter has had an OPS hovering around .600 over the first month of the season, which is obviously not where he, or the team, is used to him being.
The Guardians did win their series opener against the Athletics, 8-5, and Kwan was at the center of the win.
Steven Kwan's Multi-Hit Night
The reason that Kwan is Cleveland's leadoff hitter is because of his ability to see a bunch of pitchers and get on base at a high clip, whether it be through hits or walks.
But again, the hits have been hard to come by this year for Kwan. Thankfully, in Cleveland's series opener against the Athletics, he showed some signs of getting back on track.
Kwan ended up going 2-for-4 with one walk and a strikeout against the Athletics, and even came around to score one of Cleveland's eight runs. This was Kwan's first multi-hit game since his two-hit effort against the Baltimore Orioles on April 16.
Hopefully, this is a sign of what's to come for Kwan. Even though he had a slow start, the lead-off hitter has a .261/.370/.348 slash line over his last seven games.
May 1, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Steven Kwan (right) is congratulated by Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) after making the catch for an out to end the bottom of the seventh inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images Steven Kwan's Game-Saving Catch
For as good a hitter as Kwan has been throughout his career, the defense has been even more impressive, and
The Athletics had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Colby Thomas crushed a ball to deep center field. At the very last second, Kwan jumped up, made the catch, and ended the inning.
If Cleveland's center field didn't make the catch, the Athletics would surely have tied the game up heading into the final two innings.
Thomas put both of his hands on his head in disbelief that Kwan actually made the catch. Erik Sabrowksi put both his hands in the air, celebrating the fact that he got out of a near-impossible jam.
"He's a Gold Glover, wherever you put him on the field," said Vogt after the game. "He’s been such a great teammate, moving back and forth and putting in the work in two spots, that's new for him. And he's been outstanding wherever we put him."
The Guardians are objectively a better overall team when Kwan is playing at the top of his game. That reality was evident on Friday evening with his vintage perforamnce, and hopefully it's the game the former All-Star needs to get back on track.
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