This past weekend, we reviewed how Steven Kwan’s awful first half had been particularly damaging for the Cleveland Guardians. He had been so good for so long that a full half of mediocre play really affected the team in the standings.
Luckily for the Guardians, they enjoyed some breakout performances across the roster that helped offset the effects of Kwan’s woes. Still, they are a much better team when their four-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time All-Star is playing like his 2022-2025 version and not like his awful 2026 self.
The good news is that, after months of mediocre play, Kwan seems to be trending in the right direction as we head into the All-Star break. His playing style and skill set are deeply tied to the team’s identity, so a return to top form would be a huge boost after the break.
“[Steven Kwan’s] the epitome of Guards Ball. If he’s getting those hits to fall in, that’s when Guards Ball really seems to take off. If he can get that hitting streak continuing or start a new one. Steven Kwan, he’s definitely going to be critical, too, because is defense is indispensable,” analyst Pat McGuire said.
Steven Kwan's bat being presentable is massive for the Guardians.
"His defense is indispensable." #GuardsBall
– @p_mcguire18 pic.twitter.com/R0CLbTO8cz
— Cleveland Guardians on SI (@GuardsOnSI) July 13, 2026
Kwan is more than just a struggling hitter. He is a good baserunner, even though he is not among the fastest players in the league. He is sporting a career-high 13 percent walk rate that helps boost his .332 OBP, which is actually higher than last year’s .330.
His problem in 2026 is what happens when he makes contact, which is among the weakest in the league. His .225 batting average and .282 slugging percentage are both career-worst marks to this point, and while he still plays excellent defense at left and center field and still has a more than respectable throwing arm, his offensive performance will be the one making or breaking the rest of his Guardians’ tenure.
Last year, the entire league wanted Kwan, and he was actually close to getting traded. This time, flipping him to another team would be selling him low, and no one wants to do that.
It seems that it’s in everybody’s best interests to keep riding his hot streak to see how much value he can recoup. He is slashing a solid .345/.457/.517 with a .974 OPS and a 177 wRC+ so far in July, so he is clearly improving.
Can Kwan have an explosive second half that brings up that 81 wRC+ closer to league-average performance?
NEXT: Guardians May Have Found A Hidden Gem In The Draft
