This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Kwan (illness) is starting in left field and batting leadoff in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.
The 28-year-old was held out of the lineup Saturday due to an upper-respiratory infection but will make a quick return to the starting nine. Kwan has found his power stroke through 11 spring games with a double, a triple and two homers, resulting in a .947 OPS.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Steven Kwan: Battling illness
Rotowire
Kwan is not in the Guardians' starting lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to an upper respiratory infection, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Kwan will likely sit out for the next couple of days while battling through his illness, but there's no indication that it will impact his availability for Opening Day. Kwan has been seeing more playing time in center field during spring training, and across 28 Cactus League games he has slashed .259/.355/.593 with two home runs and five RBI in 31 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Steven Kwan: Position not affecting swing
Rotowire
Kwan started in center field and went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in Monday's spring game against Kansas City.
Kwan belted a pair of two-out, two-run home runs for his first two Cactus League homers. A Gold Glove winner in left field, the Guardians are testing Kwan in center field, where he's played seven consecutive games. The experiment hasn't affected his bat. Kwan's batting .286 (6-for-21) over nine spring games. Moving Kwan to center field would grant up-and-coming outfielders like Chase DeLauter, CJ Kayfus and George Valera, all of whom profile better as corner outfielders, opportunities for regular at-bats.
Kwan started in center field and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's spring game against the Rangers.
Kwan, a four-time Gold Glove winner in left field, will be exposed to center field this spring and made his Cactus League debut at the new position. He handled all the chances that came his way. While the position is relatively new to him in the majors -- he made four starts there as a rookie in 2022 -- Kwan has abundant experience in center field from his days in college (Oregon State) and made 152 appearances there in the minors.
Guardians' Steven Kwan: Will play some CF this spring
Rotowire
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Thursday that Kwan will play some in center field during spring training, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Kwan has won four straight Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess in left field. He made four starts in center field in his rookie year in 2022, but the Guardians have resisted using him at the position on a regular basis. It seems that could change now as the club seeks its best defensive alignment. Chase DeLauter, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez are the other main candidates to get reps in center field for Cleveland.
Kwan signed a one-year, $7.725 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Kwan's .704 OPS during the 2025 regular season marked a new career low for him, though he was still fairly productive at the plate while batting .272 and driving in a career-high 56 RBI. He'll bring in a $3.55 million raise for the 2026 campaign and figures to continue playing in left field every day for the Guardians.
1:05
0:36
0:33
0:20
11:34
9:07
0:38
0:29
1:50
0:38
1:50
1:46
1:14
1:54
1:25
0:38
0:49
1:43
0:59
8:58
