At 28 years old and coming off two straight All-Star selections, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan looked to be entering his prime. That is why he was not only considered one of the game’s top players but also was consistently mentioned in trade rumors.
Instead, at least through the first half of the 2026 season, Kwan may be starting a decline. He is performing well below his usual standard, and some of his statistics are downright shocking, raising the idea that he might be sent down to the minors.
In fact, Kwan has landed on an unfortunate MLB list, as his OPS is second-worst among qualified players.
“MLB Worst OPS Leaders: 2. Steven Kwan, 0.574,” Thomas Nestico posted.
MLB Worst OPS pic.twitter.com/2NaHwBtk7E
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) June 28, 2026
Kwan’s OPS is just .001 behind Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals. It should be noted that Perez is a 36-year-old catcher who has played almost 1,800 career games, so his decline was to be expected.
On the other hand, no one saw Kwan’s drop-off coming, especially after he opened the season with seven hits in his first 22 at-bats. Yet, entering play Monday, he is hitting .210, which is more than 70 points below his season-entering career mark. His OPS is .130 below the career-low .705 he set last season.
It could be that off-field matters have finally caught up to him. Kwan has been seeking a contract extension for more than a year, but the Guardians have not come up with one. He remains under team control through next season, but the uncertainty could be affecting him.
In addition, Kwan also willingly switched positions this season. A Gold Glove winner in left field in each of his first four seasons, he has played the majority of his games in center field this year. His defensive play remains at an elite level, which means he may be much more focused on that area of his game.
Kwan was also on the MLB bereavement list early this month, and the reason for that absence has not been made public. It is possible that whatever caused it is still weighing on him.
Though all of that is speculation about Kwan’s mental state, it may be easier to explain his woes that way because, based on his age and successful history, he should be at or near his physical peak.
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