I regret to inform you that we have reached a breaking point with Steven Kwan.
From June 9th, 2025 to June 9th, 2026, Steven Kwan has a 78 wRC+. Among qualified hitters during that time period, Kwan is third-worst in MLB behind Lawrence Butler and Masyn Winn. Butler is a bench player. Winn is starting, having also put up 78 wRC+ during that time, but also having put up more than double Kwan’s defensive value as a shortstop.
Repeatedly, in the crucial points of games, the Guardians are choosing to have
Kwan attempt a bunt instead of swinging for the hit to help them score runs. They are communicating without words that “HEY, WE GOT A PROBLEM HERE!”
I don’t want to bench Kwan. I want him to figure things out. I really enjoyed watching him as a hitter and I truly believe he can find his way back to league average. But, they’ve tried moving him down and it hasn’t worked. He has made adjustments and it hasn’t worked. He has a slashline of .235/.312/.311. His xwOBA is .299 which would equal around an 85 wRC+, but I think the xwOBA isn’t taking into account that defenses have figured out how to play Kwan to take away the few hard hits he does get and pitchers how to pitch him so those hits are not likely to cause damage. He’s the second lowest in hard hit percentage in the past years among qualified hitters at 18.7%, behind only Chandler Simpson who is a speed and defense savant. Kwan, like Simpson, hits practically every ball at medium-hit rate into easy outs (they lead the league in medium-contact rate).
As I said, I still believe Kwan can get it back but I no longer KNOW if Kwan will do it. He’ll have to start pulling more inside pitches and slapping more outside pitches as line drives. But, for now, it’s time for the team to admit that Kwan needs to be more of a part-time player for a while and work on his approach in the cages and in situations designed to help him succeed in-game.
The accompanying moves are simple- Stuart Fairchild DFA. Kahlil Watson called up and given a run at the centerfield job. However, we all know that, instead, Gabriel Arias will replace Fairchild by the Detroit series and we will have zero increase in offensive ceiling… both Kwan and Arias are bad hitters and good defenders. Having both is not what this team needs.
Am I certain that Watson will be better than Kwan? No. Watson is striking out 29% of the time in Triple-A and chasing 28% of the time with only an 82% contact rate. But, he has a 129 wRC+ and a slugging percentage over .500 and looks like a good centerfielder, defensively. He is a player who appears to be done with the challenge of Triple-A and ready to take his first shot at handling the bigs. While Watson gets a trial run, the team gives players like CJ Kayfus, Ralphy Velazquez and Juan Brito a chance to show they can find their hitting strokes and handle left field, while also scouring the trade deadline market for outfielders.
Kwan, meanwhile, is a great defensive replacement, a solid pinch runner and certainly capable of playing 2-3 times a week at any outfield position. They will not do this to Kwan, who is a team leader. But, they should. For the good of the team and Kwan.
Side note- it won’t be for much, but don’t be surprised if they trade Kwan to the Rays who will immediately get him back to a 100 wRC+ hitter. I have had a vision of it.
