During his time with the Cleveland Guardians, Steven Kwan has shown that he’s not only an excellent player on the field but that he’s also a loyal teammate and solid member of the organization off the field. Though he has been seeking a contract extension for quite some time, he does not let that get in the way of what the club is trying to accomplish.
The latest example of that is Kwan’s willingness to try playing center field after winning the Gold Glove playing left field in each of his four MLB seasons. It would be hard to blame him if he dismissed the idea, perhaps unwilling to take a risk as he heads toward possibly becoming a free agent.
Kwan recently revealed his honest thoughts about playing center field, saying he agreed to do so to make things easier on some of his younger teammates.
“It wasn’t one of those things where I said I want to play center,” Kwan said. “It was like, ‘Hey, I know we’re dealing with a lot of decisions in the outfield. If me being in center makes things easier for other guys to find some spots, I’m all in.’”
The Guardians are trying to sort out their starting outfield while adding heralded rookie Chase DeLauter to the mix. The thinking is that it may be easier for DeLauter to adjust to his first major league season by playing a less-demanding corner position.
With right field also unsettled, manager Stephen Vogt can use spring training to determine the best combination of both offense and defense. Nolan Jones, George Valera, and possibly C.J. Kayfus could all see playing time in the outfield.
The emphasis may be on offense. Last season, Angel Martinez started the most games in center field, with 114. However, he isn’t nearly the offensive threat any of the others are projected to be.
The Guardians may not be able to afford a lack of production again after ranking among the worst offensive teams in MLB. Though DeLauter’s minor league career to date has been limited by injuries, he is seen as a top offensive prospect who could contend for AL Rookie of the Year.
So, Cleveland likely wants to find a way to make sure he’s not only in the lineup but comfortable, with Kwan doing his part to make that happen.
NEXT: Guardians Player Reveals What Makes Stephen Vogt Different
