Guardians Star Gets Left Out Of Notable Left Fielder List

The Cleveland Guardians have had a quiet offseason and seem to be content going into the 2026 season counting on some young prospects taking the next step to help improve what was a lifeless offense at times in 2025. It makes it easier to do that when you have a few perennial All-Stars anchoring the lineup, and hopefully, the youngsters can improve enough to help support the stars so they avoid being pitched around.

The outfield is where Cleveland needs help the most, and a lot will be asked of Chase DeLauter and George Valera with the hope they can provide big upgrades over Angel Martinez, Nolan Jones, and Jhonkensy Noel, who were all major disappointments at the plate in 2025. As uncertain as center field and right field are, fans can take solace in the fact that Cleveland’s star left fielder is still in town despite some trade rumors, though one major network apparently doesn’t think so highly of him.

Steven Kwan was an All-Star once again in 2025 and has firmly established himself as one of the best all-around outfielders in baseball, although MLB Network thinks otherwise. MoreForYouCleveland replied to MLB Network’s recent top ten left fielder rankings with an appropriate response, as they didn’t even have Kwan in the top ten.

“Did Steven Kwan die?” MoreForYouCleveland posted on X.

Did Steven Kwan die? https://t.co/WAkUQRs3nV

— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) January 28, 2026

Kwan didn’t have his best year with the bat in 2025, as he posted a career-low .705 OPS with 11 home runs and 21 steals. He tailed off down the stretch after playing through injury around the All-Star break, though he should be all set for a much better year in 2026.

He also won a Gold Glove for the fourth year in a row to begin his career, and at this point is unquestionably the best defensive left fielder in the game. That alone combined with him being one of the most stable leadoff hitters in the game should at least put him in the top ten.

Perhaps MLB Network fell victim to recency bias or big market bias, but hopefully this just adds a little more fuel to the fire for Kwan. Cleveland needs a big year out of him with so much uncertainty in the lineup.