The Cleveland Guardians have been waiting almost all season for Steven Kwan to show his All-Star form at the plate. Based on his recent play, he may be coming around at the perfect time.
With Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez on the injured list, the Guardians needed someone to step up to make up for their absence. Kwan has done his part, with his best stretch since very early in the campaign.
Kwan is quietly turning his season around, extending his hitting streak to eight games against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
“Steven Kwan added an infield single in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to a season-high eight games and has now hit safely in 11 of his last 12 contests, batting .316 during that stretch,” Joe Noga wrote.
Kwan has raised his batting average by 15 points, pushing it to .221. Though that may not seem like much, it is difficult to make a significant change this far into a season, and it is much better than the season low of .196 he was sporting on May 23.
There have been many theories as to why Kwan was so drastically underperforming this season, which he entered with a career batting average of .282. Not only was he moved out of his familiar leadoff spot, but he also had one of the worst OPS numbers in the majors, and there was even talk about a potential stint in the minor leagues.
Entering this season, Kwan was willing to change defensive positions, moving to center field after winning a Gold Glove in each of his first four seasons in left field. He may have finally adjusted to switching back and forth between the two spots so that it is no longer an issue.
Kwan is also still seeking a contract extension from the Guardians, which resulted in his being regularly mentioned in trade rumors, which also could have been weighing on him. With this season’s trade deadline approaching Aug. 3, those rumors could resurface, and his improved performance could change how Cleveland approaches any potential deals.
The 28-year-old also missed time earlier in the season to deal with an unspecified family matter. It is a lot to handle over the course of a long baseball season that is filled with many ups and downs, even without those issues.
Hopefully, Kwan can keep his good times going, as the Guardians will need all the help they can get in a tight AL playoff race.
NEXT: Analyst Reacts To Guardians' Split Series Against White Sox
