Steven Kwan, the All-Star left fielder and multiple Gold Glove Award winner from the Cleveland Guardians is as humble as you will find a baseball player to be.
You can shower him with praise, and it’s like it makes him a bit uncomfortable: he will take it, but you know he is a level-headed, quiet guy minding his business instead of the cocky, annoying type.
He appeared on Guardians legend Corey Kluber’s podcast and reminisced about those days in 2022 when he earned a spot on the team and had a debut year to remember.
As Kwan recalls, everything was going right for him that year.
Co-host Tyler Casagrande pointed out that Kwan started his career with 116 pitches without swinging and missing.
“It was crazy: slider in the dirt, single to right. I did everything wrong there but for some reason, it was working out,” he said.
Kluber, who was pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays that year, also offered his take.
“I remember the approach being to stay away (from the strike zone) and try to pound you in. The frustrating part is I remember pounding you in and (you) just dumped it over the third baseman”, Kluber said with a laugh.
That year, his first as a major leaguer, Kwan hit .298, accumulated a 125 wRC+, and took home the Gold Glove award.
Kwan also discussed coming up under Terry Francona’s mentorship, calling him a Hall of Famer, and praised Jose Ramirez, saying he cares a lot about playing baseball and winning.
Kwan is now one of the most important players on the Guardians and a very solid leadoff hitter, not to mention a three-time Gold Glover and a threat to steal 20 bases every year.
Not bad for a humble guy from California.
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