By now, everyone in the league knows the deal with Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. He was one of the most disappointing players of the first half, but he is also starting to heat up, with a 131 wRC+ since June 23.
Overall, he is hitting .225 with an 81 wRC+, far from his career marks of .275 and 108, respectively. It has been a year to forget for the two-time All-Star, but at least he appears to be trending in the right direction.
Does he have enough time to erase his ugly first half and finish out the season strong? It remains to be seen, but one particular stat has kept him useful.
“Steven Kwan has a higher on-base percentage in 2026 than he did in 2025. Hard to believe, right? 2025: .330 on-base percentage, 7.9% walk rate. 2026: .332 on-base percentage, 13.0% walk rate. That walk rate is key to keeping him afloat. He entered a game in Chicago last month in the seventh inning, drew a pair of free passes and has since posted a .309/.406/.418 slash line in 19 games. It’s even better if we cherrypick only his 11 July games (.974 OPS),” Meisel wrote.
It’s hard to believe that Kwan actually has a higher on-base percentage this year than last. It’s true, though, and that’s actually one of the few things he has improved in 2026.
However, the real problem starts when he makes contact or, to be more specific, when he swings. His 62.7 mph average bat speed is the worst in the majors, and, as a result, his hard-hit rate of 9.7 percent is also the lowest in the league.
It’s hard to find consistency and success with such a rough batted-ball profile. Simply put, Kwan will have to make an effort to do more damage at the plate, and that starts by increasing that ugly bat speed.
Yes, he is routinely among the worst players in the league in that metric, but he has, at least, been comfortably over 63.5 mph in recent seasons. You probably won’t believe it, but it does make a difference.
Kwan is still 28, so he is theoretically in his prime. He has the track record and talent to offer more than just walks. Taking bases on balls is good for the team, but he must show some sort of rebound when swinging the bat and making contact, too.
NEXT: Insider Names Guardians' Most Overlooked Player This Season
