Steven Kwan is starting to become a problem for the Cleveland Guardians. Before the start of the 2026 campaign, reading that sentence would have been unthinkable: the guy was a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner, not to mention one of the most respected leadoff hitters in baseball.
This year, however, has been really challenging for the outfielder. It has been so rough that his future in the organization is now in question.
Kwan is, as of Thursday morning, slashing .209/.318/.256 with one home run, three stolen bases, and a 69 wRC+. He boasts one of the league’s worst bat speed numbers, and he has been unable to replicate the success that made him such a respected leadoff hitter.
He lost that spot in the lineup to Travis Bazzana, and if he keeps struggling, he could lose his place on the team. There are still some people out there who have faith in him, though.
“I think I’ll bring Kwan again to first [in the batting order]. I need to get Kwan going again, guys. He’s a big key for us. He’s been the big key for us in the last three years to make it to the playoffs. We need to get his confidence back. We need to bring the smile back and make him believe. He still has the ability,” franchise legend Carlos Baerga said.
The Guards NEED Steven Kwan to return to normalcy. #GuardsBall
"We need to bring the smile back and make him believe. He STILL has the ability."
presented by @FanDuel https://t.co/zX3esDM8c2 pic.twitter.com/rdbVxqueKp
— The Daily Guards (@DailyGuards) June 18, 2026
The Guardians tried to power through with Kwan at the top for weeks, to no avail. That’s why manager Stephen Vogt went with Bazzana as the first hitter in the order, because the offense needed it.
Kwan has shown no signs of breaking out of his slump, hitting .220/.256/.244 with a rough 40 wRC+ since the beginning of June. He isn’t even drawing walks at this point, and his confidence is completely gone.
The Guardians are in an uncomfortable position because Kwan’s trade value has plummeted. Keeping him means either giving him more chances to figure things out or optioning him to the minors, which would further sink his value.
Baerga, however, still thinks the guy who boasts a career 108 wRC+ and .348 OBP can show up at any minute. It’s certainly a possibility, but it’s clear that something is going on with his swing, his decisions, and his confidence.
NEXT: Analyst Names Guardians' Most Scrutinized Player This Season
