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Steven Kwan

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Steven Kwan
Kwan with theCleveland Guardiansin 2022
Cleveland Guardians – No. 38
Left fielder
Born:(1997-09-05)September 5, 1997(age 26)
Los Gatos, California,U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
MLB debut
April 7, 2022, for the Cleveland Guardians
MLB statistics
(through July 14, 2024)
Batting average.296
Hits438
Home runs20
Runs batted in133
Stolen bases45
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Steven Robert Kwan(born September 5, 1997) is an Americanprofessional baseballleft fielderfor theCleveland GuardiansofMajor League Baseball(MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Born inLos Gatos, Californiaand raised inFremont, California,Kwan played three years of college baseball atOregon State Universitybefore being selected by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round of the2018 MLB draft.He was a member of their minor league system for four years before making Cleveland's Opening Day roster in 2022, quickly becoming a part of their starting lineup, playing all three outfield positions. Following the conclusion of his rookie year, he earned a Gold Glove Award for his defense in left field and was a finalist for theMajor League Baseball Rookie of the Year Awardof theAmerican League.Kwan is a one-time MLB All Star.

Amateur career[edit]

Kwan during the2018 College World Series

Kwan attendedWashington High SchoolinFremont, California,where he batted.462 as a senior in 2015.[1]After graduating, he enrolled atOregon State Universitywhere he playedcollege baseballfor theBeavers.As a freshman in 2016, he played in 35 games in which he hit.215.[2]He later said that, as a freshman, he did not feel he belonged at Oregon State among their "high recruits." He sat out two months of the season and had to visit with asports psychologist.[3]His play improved in 2017 as a sophomore and he appeared in 55 games (making 42 starts), batting.331 with one home run, 18 runs batted in (RBIs), six doubles, and eight stolen bases.[4][5]After the 2017 season, he playedcollegiate summer baseballwith theWareham Gatemenof theCape Cod Baseball League.[6]

As a junior in 2018, Kwan played in 66 games and hit.355/.463/.457 with two home runs, 41 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.[7]He battedleadoffahead ofNick Madrigal,Trevor LarnachandAdley Rutschmanand helped lead the Beavers to a national championship in the2018 College World Series.[8]After his junior year, he was selected by theCleveland Indiansin the fifth round of the2018 Major League Baseball draft.[9][10]

Professional career[edit]

Minor leagues[edit]

Kwan at theWhite Housein 2019

Kwan signed with the Guardians organization when it was still known as the Indians, made his professional debut with theArizona League Indians,and was later promoted to theMahoning Valley Scrappers,hitting a combined.346 over 17 games between the two clubs.[11]In 2019, he played with theLynchburg Hillcats,batting.280 with three home runs, 39 RBIs, and 26 doubles over 123 games.[12]

He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[13]Kwan began the 2021 season with theAkron RubberDucksand was promoted to theColumbus Clippersin late August.[14]He missed six weeks during the season due to a strained right hamstring.[15]Over 77 games between the two clubs, Kwan slashed.328/.407/.527 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs.[16]The newly named Cleveland Guardians selected Kwan to their 40-man roster on November 19, 2021.[17]

Major leagues[edit]

On April 2, 2022, the Guardians announced that Kwan had been named to the Opening Day roster.[18]He made his MLB debut on Opening Day as the starting right fielder on April 7, and recorded his first major league hit offKansas City RoyalsrelieverScott Barlow.[19][20]After making his debut, he became just the sixth player since at least 1901 to have a five-hit game within his first three major league games, and also became the first player since at least 1901 to reach base safely 15 times in his first four games.[21]He saw 116 pitches before he swung and missed, the most for any batter to start his career since 2000.[22]

Kwan was namedAmerican LeagueRookie of the Monthfor April and September 2022.[23]He hit his first major league home run on May 5 off ofJosé Berríos.[24]On September 25, Kwan hit his first career grand slam off ofJoe Barlowof theTexas Rangers.[25]

In 2022, Kwan had the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls in the majors (18.9%), the highest called-strike percentage in the majors (24.5%), and batted.298/.373/.400 with six home runs, 52 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and 25 doubles alongside 62 walks and 60 strikeouts over 147 games. Kwan's 62 walks compared to 60 strikeouts made him the first rookie to record more walks than strikeouts sinceDustin Pedroiain 2007.[26][27]On defense, Kwan was awarded the American League's left fieldGold Glove Award.[28]He was named a finalist for theAmerican League Rookie of the Year Award,alongsideAdley RutschmanandJulio Rodríguez.[29]

In 2023, Kwan had the lowest strikeout percentage in the AL (10.4%) and the lowest maximum exit velocity (105.2 mph), while batting.268/.340/.370.[30][31]

Personal life[edit]

Kwan is of Japanese and Chinese descent.[32]

References[edit]

  1. ^"All-East Bay baseball team".June 24, 2015.
  2. ^"Kwan puts team above self".
  3. ^Lewis, Ryan (April 4, 2022)."Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan had to get over 'imposter syndrome' during journey to majors".Akron Beacon Journal.RetrievedFebruary 17,2023.
  4. ^"OSU baseball: Fan-favorite Kwan terrorizes opposing pitchers".
  5. ^"Swing change has Steven Kwan at ':;forefront of OSU lineup".May 19, 2017.
  6. ^"#51 Steven Kwan".pointstreak.RetrievedSeptember 23,2021.
  7. ^"OSU overcame staggering number of obstacles to win NCAA title".July 7, 2018.
  8. ^Mintz, Jake (April 12, 2022)."How Cleveland's Steven Kwan became the star of MLB opening weekend".FOX Sports.RetrievedFebruary 17,2023.
  9. ^"MLB draft: Steven Kwan picked by Cleveland in 5th round".June 5, 2018.
  10. ^"OSU baseball: Kwan, Rasmussen, Gretler selected on Day 2 of draft".
  11. ^"Lynchburg Hillcats announce 2019 opening day roster".March 30, 2019.
  12. ^"Fantasy Baseball: 11 no-name sleeper prospects to pick up in dynasty leagues now".
  13. ^"2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled".MLB.
  14. ^"State of the Indians' farm system, Terry Francona's status, offseason targets and more: Meisel's Mailbag".
  15. ^"Back from injury, RubberDucks Steven Kwan tearing up Double-A Northeast".
  16. ^"Drew Rasmussen Headed to MLB Postseason".
  17. ^"Guardians Announce Series Of 40-man Roster Moves".MLB.
  18. ^Gulick, Brendan (April 2, 2022)."Cleveland Guardians' Opening Day Roster Beginning To Take Shape - Sports Illustrated Cleveland Indians News, Analysis and More".Si.RetrievedApril 11,2022.
  19. ^"Tito teases Kwan, then grants him Opening Day debut".MLB.
  20. ^"Rookie Steven Kwan has an opening day to remember: Guardians' takeaways".cleveland. April 8, 2022.RetrievedApril 11,2022.
  21. ^"Rookie reaches base 15 times in first 4 games".MLB.RetrievedApril 12,2022.
  22. ^"Swing and (kind of) a miss: Kwan's incredible streak ends".MLB.
  23. ^Lewis, Ryan."Jose Ramirez wins AL Player of the Month, Steven Kwan named Rookie of the Month".Akron Beacon Journal.RetrievedMay 22,2022.
  24. ^"Guardians' Kwan hits first career home run".
  25. ^"WATCH: Steven Kwan hits Grand Slam As Guardians Are Set To Clinch The Division".si.RetrievedJune 21,2023.
  26. ^"Major League Leaderboards » 2022 » Batters » Plate Discipline Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball".fangraphs.
  27. ^"Major League Leaderboards » 2022 » Batters » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball".fangraphs.
  28. ^"MLB Announces 2022 Gold Glove Winners".MLB Trade Rumors.
  29. ^"Guardians' Terry Francona, Steven Kwan finalists for BBWAA AL manager, rookie awards".November 8, 2022.
  30. ^"Major League Leaderboards - 2023 - Batting".FanGraphs Baseball.
  31. ^"Major League Leaderboards - 2023 - Batting".FanGraphs Baseball.
  32. ^David Brown (April 12, 2022)."Steven Kwan stays grounded during record-breaking start for Guardians".Bally Sports.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steven_Kwan&oldid=1235117602"