The Steven Kwan conversation is not going away, and the local media is starting to ask the question that Cleveland fans have been quietly thinking about for a while now.
92.3 The Fan’s Jonathan Peterlin and Nick Wilson sat down recently to discuss what has been an unexpectedly difficult stretch for one of the most beloved players in the Guardians organization. Peterlin’s take was one that is going to resonate with anyone who has been watching Kwan closely over the last several months.
“Why no one’s freaking out about Jose..is because you know he’ll turn it around. We don’t know that with certainty with (Steven) Kwan. You waited to get paid and it just might not even happen. I would meltdown for him,” Peterlin said.
"Why no one's freaking out about Jose..is because you know he'll turn it around. We don't know that with certainty with (Steven) Kwan. You waited to get paid and it just might not even happen. I would meltdown for him."
➡️ @JPeterlin and @NickWilsonSays discuss #Guardians OF… pic.twitter.com/unCvyhwyFi
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) May 6, 2026
Through 133 at-bats in 2026, Kwan is hitting .211 with just one home run, nine RBI, and a .573 OPS. His OPS+ of 63 means he has been 37 percent below the league average hitter this season. For a player who owns a career .278 average, a .732 OPS, and a 107 OPS+ over 2,439 career at-bats, the gap between who Kwan has been and who he is right now is significant.
Jose Ramirez has been one of the best players in baseball for a decade. The track record creates a reasonable baseline of trust that the talent will resurface. With Kwan, that same certainty does not exist in the same way, which is what makes his current slump feel more unsettling to those paying close attention.
That is not meant as a knock on Kwan’s career accomplishments. He is a two-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner who has been one of the most consistent defensive outfielders in the sport since his debut in 2022. His ability to get on base, work counts, and play elite defense in left field has made him a foundational piece of what Cleveland does. At his best, he is exactly the kind of player you want leading off your lineup every day.
But the bat has been a genuine concern.
The Guardians need Kwan to find himself offensively. His defense and baserunning continue to provide value even when the bat is not there, but Cleveland’s lineup functions at a different level entirely when he is on base consistently and putting pressure on opposing pitchers from the top of the order.
NEXT: Guardians Insider Predicts Another Close Race For AL Central
