The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kwan: Team can replicate 2022 run
It is telling that with less than a week remaining in spring training two-thirds of the Guardians starting outfield was in flux. And, it is sobering to note, the problem isn’t because there is an abundance of great players and only two positions for them to fill.
While no one jumped out to secure center field or right field with the season opener set for March 28 in Oakland, Steven Kwan, about to begin his third season with the Guardians, has a firm grasp on left field. Kwan hit only five home runs last season, but he hit .268, drove in 54 runs, and led the team with 93 runs scored.
“We have one of the best left fielders in baseball in terms of overall production,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “Steven Kwan, when you look at the totality of what he contributed to the team (in 2023), offensively and defensively, he was among the best left fielders. So that’s a position we continue to believe will be a positive for us.”
Kwan batted .298 as a rookie in 2022. His batting average dipped 30 points in his second season, but he played 158 games in 2023 — 11 more than in his rookie year — and he scored four more runs and drove in two more runs than in 2022. Only Jose Ramirez with 172 had more hits than the 171 posted by Kwan in 2023.
It doesn’t take a baseball wizard to know the Guardians need to score more runs if they are going to be successful in 2024. They were last in the majors in home runs in 2023 with 124 and 27th in runs scored with 662.
Kwan is taking it upon himself to contribute more offensively. As the leadoff hitter, he isn’t happy his average dropped as much as it did last year, even though he did lead the team in runs scored. He has been working closely with hitting coach Chris Valaika to hit
more than five home runs without trying to turn into a feast or famine hitter.
Kwan walked 62 times and struck out 60 times in 2022. Those numbers flipped in 2023 when he walked 70 times and struck out 75 times.
“I think just working on bat angles and bat speed,” Kwan said. “Bat speed’s been a big one. Just trying to get a little uptick anywhere I can. I don’t think it’ll sacrifice any of the contact, but I think if I could swing the bat a little harder, have a little more intent, anticipate a little more, I think that’ll be a good starting point.”
Kwan won a Rawlings Gold Glove for his defense as a rookie and again last year. Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez
also won a Gold Glove in 2022 and another in 2023.
Just as there is uncertainty in center field and right field, the Guardians had a host of candidates to play shortstop, which, as with center and right, is because no one seized the position. Brayan Rocchio ended up winning the shortstop job ahead of Gabriel Arias because Rocchio is a more consistent hitter. Arias has more power but strikes out frequently.
Manager Stephen Vogt could move Kwan to center field or right field and move Gimenez to shortstop, but that would be solving one problem and creating another. Kwan is firmly in left and Gimenez is firmly at second base. End of story.
“Both with Andres and Steven, they’re two of the
best defenders at their position, which is something we don’t take for granted,’ Antonetti said. “Moving them off those positions or contemplating that is something we recognize could come with a cost.”
It is worth remembering Kwan was the surprise of spring training in 2022. He carried that over into an amazing start, hitting safely 10 times in his first 15 at-bats over five games.
Kwan has become a clubhouse leader in a very short time.
Often “clubhouse leader” is a term that is overused. Players are team oriented and are tight with each other. They play cards, video games, ping pong or whatever in the clubhouse, but if things aren’t going well personally, players often
keep those issues to themselves.
Triston McKenzie had a difficult 2022 season. He suffered a shoulder injury in his final start of spring training, started the season on the injured list and made two starts in early June. He felt discomfort in his right elbow during his second start and went back on the injured list until late September. It was Kwan who kept reminding “Sticks” how important he is to the team.
“There was a certain point in the season where I felt like even though I was in the clubhouse and I was bringing energy, I wasn’t really a part of the team to a degree,” McKenzie said. “And Steven said, ‘You mean more here than you know.’ He was just like, when they’re on the road and I wasn’t able to travel, he said the team definitely missed me, and that just definitely warmed my heart and made me push even harder to get back quickly.”
For the record, McKenzie had an excellent spring. Vogt could have picked McKenzie to pitch in the season opener, but he is going with Shane Bieber instead. It will be the fifth straight opening day assignment for Bieber.
“It’s crazy to say, but I mean, (McKenzie) is one of the vets,” Kwan said. “You kind of see how he goes through his business. He’s not going to be a big ‘rah rah’ guy, obviously, but he’s a leader by example kind of guy, and I think a lot of the pitchers and even younger players look at him for a lot of guidance — dress code, music, how to act. I think it is really important for him to lead with us.”
McKenzie and Bieber (Bieber missed 10 starts in 2023 with a shoulder injury) staying healthy would go a long way to making the Guardians a contender in 2024. But they need more than that.
The season ahead should prove whether 2022, when they finished 92-70, was a mirage, or whether 2023 (76-86) was a truer version of the talent level of the Guardians.
Kwan is confident that with the return of fiery backup catcher Austin Hedges that the good ol’ days of two years ago can be revived.
“Obviously we’ve got Austin back,” Kwan said. “He’s a clown, but it’ll be good. He keeps the locker room together. He’s a vocal leader. He’s one of those guys that will let people know what’s going on. I mean, he’ll talk just to talk also, but the locker room, I think, should be a certain way and he’s the enforcer.
“It feels like it’s kind of that same energy (as 2022). Yeah, it’s just kind of good energy in the air, really optimistic. There’s a lot of good things that can happen.”