Steven Kwan Makes Honest Admission About His Viral Play On Tuesday

The experiment of moving Steven Kwan to center field has gone about as well as anyone could have hoped for the Cleveland Guardians this season. Now, the Gold Glove outfielder has his first signature fielding moment at the position.

In a tie game, the St. Louis Cardinals had runners on first and second in the bottom of the sixth inning. Alec Burleson hit a sinking line drive toward left-center field, where Kwan was able to make a diving catch on his stomach. Not only that, the left-handed thrower popped up and threw to second base for a rally-killing double play.

Afterward, Kwan made an honest admission about his viral play on Tuesday, calling it the first real challenge since he switched positions.

“I think today was probably the first really challenging play,” Kwan said. “Just trying to stay locked in with positioning … but it’s been good to be back out there.”

Gold Glove. Doesn't matter where.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/gznqIp58kI

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 15, 2026

Unfortunately, the Guardians’ defense let them down later in the game. Leading by one with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, second baseman Juan Brito made an error that led to the tying run being scored and an eventual 6-5 loss in extra innings.

However, Cleveland likely would not have been in a position to win the game if not for Kwan’s diving catch. Interestingly, Kwan finished the game in left field after some defensive switches following Brito’s entrance in the eighth inning as a pinch runner.

Kwan sat out the series finale against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday before getting back into the lineup in left field on Monday. So far this season, he has started 12 games in center field and five games in left field, where he had won the Gold Glove in each of his four MLB seasons.

The double play was Kwan’s first assist of the season. He also has one error in 26 chances in center field, which may have been undeserved, as he bobbled the ball after chasing down a hit in the gap by the Kansas City Royals. He has had 14 errorless chances in center field.

Unfortunately, Kwan is not at his usual standard on offense so far this season, and after going 0-for-5 on Tuesday, his batting average sits at .239 heading into the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.