Steven Kwan has quietly turned into one of the most productive hitters in Cleveland’s lineup since the calendar flipped past the All-Star break, and the numbers over that stretch put him among the better pure hitters in the entire league. The left fielder has always been known for his contact skills and his ability to control the strike zone, but the version of Kwan showing up over the second half of this season has taken that reputation to another level entirely.
Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com broke down just how impressive the stretch has been.
“Leadoff hitter Steven Kwan, who now qualifies as a veteran on Cleveland’s roster, is hitting .351 (68 for 194) with 10 doubles since the All-Star break,” Hoynes wrote.
Kwan has built that stretch through the same approach that has defined his career, spraying line drives to all fields and rarely chasing pitches outside the strike zone. His numbers on the road this season back up the larger trend, with a batting average near .280 and an on base percentage above .350 away from Progressive Field, showing the consistency has not been limited to one type of ballpark or situation.
The recent sample only reinforces how hot Kwan has been. Over his last seven games, he has collected 9 hits in 26 at-bats with three doubles, and his September numbers as a whole show 13 hits in 49 at-bats with three doubles.
What makes the stretch even more valuable is where Kwan sits in the batting order. As the leadoff hitter, every extra-base hit and every time he reaches safely sets the table for the rest of a Guardians lineup that has needed all the offensive support it can get during a tight stretch run in both the division and Wild Card races. A veteran presence performing at this level at the top of the order gives Cleveland a level of stability that few other contenders can match from the leadoff spot right now.
NEXT: Guardians Shuffle Their Bullpen With A Late-Season Move
