TORONTO — Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt was asked recently about his favorite part of managing All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan.
“Watching him play,” Vogt said, admitting that he takes time to appreciate the elite level that Kwan and other major league stars prepare themselves and then execute on a near daily basis.
Kwan collected two more hits Saturday in Cleveland’s 5-3 comeback win against Toronto, including a leadoff single in the ninth that helped load the bases for Daniel Schneemann’s go-ahead grand slam off Yimi Garcia.
It was his 13th multi-hit game and it raised his road batting average to .373 with six extra-base hits, nine RBI and a .977 OPS. By the end of the game, Kwan ranked first in the majors with a 91.8% contact rate, second in strikeout rate (9.9%), third in batting average and fourth in hits (43) among qualified American League hitters.
On Friday, it was Kwan’s defense that helped Cleveland keep things close in a game the Guardians eventually lost, 5-3. Kwan’s quick release on a throw from left field cut down Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trying to stretch a single that hit the wall into a double.
Kwan ranks in the top 100 percentile in arm outs above average according to BaseballSavant.com and his arm strength as measured by Statcast is at a career high after 96 throws this season.
Kwan said regular arm care and putting himself in position to make certain throws has made a difference in his arm strength.
“Our pitchers up there work as hard as they can, and if I can kind of steal an out or keep a guy at first base, that’s my biggest thing,” Kwan said. “If they can feel comfortable and get a rhythm, it’s going to help all of us.”
Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians jumps onto home plate as he scores on a Daniel Schneemann #10 grand slam in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 3, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)Getty Images
Vogt has watched Kwan’s defense continue to develop over the last two seasons. The three-time Gold Glove Award winner continues to push himself in a number of ways, including decoying runners on balls in the air and interrupting runners’ timing as they try to round the bases.
“He’s so good at making a base runner just kind of stutter step and then all of a sudden they’re thrown out by a foot at the plate,” Vogt said. “His throws are accurate. He gets his body into position as he’s catching the ball to make throws. He is always thinking ahead of how he can change the game with his defense.”
At the plate, Vogt called Kwan one of the best complete hitters in the big leagues.
“He may not have 25, 30 home run power, but if you make a mistake, it’s going to go a long way,” Vogt said.
Friday’s at-bat in the ninth inning against Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman typified the Kwan experience, according to Vogt.
Kwan fell behind in the count 0-2 before taking a tough sinker down and out of the strike zone for ball one. After flicking away a 97 mph fastball, Kwan drilled a pitch high and away down the third base line for a double that put the tying run in scoring position before Gabriel Arias ended the game on a ground out.
“That’s Steven Kwan in a nutshell,” Vogt said. “I don’t care if I get down by two (strikes), you still have to throw it over the plate one more time. And there’s very little chase. He can beat you to all angles. It’s so much fun to watch him hit.”
Vogt told reporters that he loves watching Major League Baseball because of the opportunity to see Kwan and the best players in the world do what they do every single night.
“When you get to watch Steven Kwan and other guys face these elite pitchers, you’re going to see something cool,” Vogt said. “It’s just fun to watch these guys compete.”
