Guardians’ Steven Kwan Just Keeps Hitting

All Steven Kwan has done is hit. 

The 24-year-old outfielder hit .329 in three years at Oregon State and was a member of the 2018 national champions. He hit .304 in the Cape Cod League as a rising junior in 2017.

Drafted by the Guardians in the fifth round in 2018, Kwan owns a career .301 in pro ball. He broke out in a big way in 2021, hitting .328/.407/.527 with 12 home runs and six stolen bases in 77 games for Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.

The lefthanded hitter joined the 40-man roster in November and could carve out a role in Cleveland this season.

“He’s a throwback,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “He puts the ball in play, in an age when there is a lot of swinging and missing.”

With the exception of center fielder Myles Straw, the Guardians’ outfield continues to be a work in progress. Kwan does not have prototype corner outfield power, but he does have the next best thing: an ability to consistently put the ball in play and get on base.

“He uses the whole field,” Francona said. “I think, as he grows into his comfort zone, you’ll see him not necessarily hit home runs, but drive the ball more.”

At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds and with a contact-oriented approach, Kwan will never be power hitter. In his three years at Oregon State, he hit three home runs. But he is learning to hunt his pitch and turn on it.

The Guardians would be happy to continue to see Kwan put his bat on the ball, which is something that he’s consistently done at all levels. He has more walks (100) than strikeouts (82) as a pro.

“As he gets an accumulation of at bats, and gets some confidence, I think you’ll see him hit more balls into the gaps,” Francona said.