Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan Is On A Historical Run

Despite missing time this season, Guardians' beloved outfielder Steven Kwan has been a difference-maker at the plate this season.

Jun 15, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Steven Kwan (38) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports | Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

In an era of baseball that's heavily controlled by the long ball, Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan breaks conventional baseball norms.

The former fifth-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft has been a spark plug to the Guardians' offense with his remarkable talent of generating hits at the top of the lineup. Guardians fans are well aware of Kwan's ability to hit for average, but the 2024 version of Cleveland's starting left fielder is beginning to reach new heights.

An injury to his left hamstring in early May has not hampered his dominant season. Kwan holds the highest WAR on the team at 2.7, which is an incredible feat considering that every player above him in this category has played at least 60 games this season.

After his recent 4-for-5 performance against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, Kwan joined an elite group of Cleveland players batting when looking at their batting average through their first 69 games of a season:

Highest AVG by a CLE hitter thru 69 team G (min. 150PA):

1. Shoeless Joe Jackson (.414, 1913)
2. Tris Speaker (.405, 1921)
3. SJJ (.3984, 1912)
4. STEVEN KWAN (.3977, 2024)

The last MLB hitter to hit .397+ (min. 150PA) thru 69 team G was Joe Mauer (.421) in 2009.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/Z4G7Ec6ZgC

— Luke Potosky (@LukePotosky) June 17, 2024

But that's not the most impressive part about Kwan this season.

Since returning to Cleveland's lineup on May 31, Kwan has been one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball. The Guardians' leadoff bat has touted a .535 batting average and a .600 OBP, which ranks first since May 31. His 1.298 OPS during the 11-game span is the second-highest behind Yankees' Aaron Judge.

On top of that, Kwan is on an 11-game hit streak, which includes seven multi-hit games.

The legend of Steven Kwan grows as he continues to put together a historic season. #Guardians | #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/jhaDCOBUG8

— Cleveland Baseball Insider (@CBI_FanNation) June 17, 2024

Even though Kwan has missed a portion of the season, the 26-year-old still has time to make a push for a starting position in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. He currently sits in fourth place in the AL outfielder voting, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Kwan trails the Yankees' dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, along with Astros' Kyle Tucker.