Where Steven Kwan Excelled, Guardians Breakdown
Baseball is full of anomalies. It's what makes this sport so much fun to follow and watch.
It's hard to explain why some elements of the game happen, but it's certainly fun to try and break them all down. One oddity that fans saw with the Cleveland Guardians last season revolved around lead-off hitter Steven Kwan.
Kwan was one of Clevend's best hitters in 2023 and has been one of their best since debuting back at the beginning of 2022. He finished his sophomore season with a slash line of .268/.340/.370 taking a slight step back from his rookie year. Still, a productive and reliable bat nonetheless.
Aug 30, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Steven Kwan (38) hits an RBI single against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
© Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
However, breaking these numbers down is where it really gets interesting.
Kwan was a better hitter away from Progressive Field by a large margin. The center fielder hit .246/.327/.330 at home while posting a slash line of .290/.354./.410 away from Cleveland.
In total, Kwan had 13 more hits, two more doubles, and 12 more RBI outside of Progressive Field.
You'd think that a player would perform better in a ballpark they know and can find consistency in, but this clearly isn't the case for Kwan. This is a trend that dates back to his rookie season too.
Kwan had a slightly better batting average and slugging on the road back in 2022 but the disparity grew larger last season.
Not everything has to do with what ballpark a player is hitting. Of course, who's pitching, whether they're a righty or lefty, and even weather plays a factor that can affect the outcome of a hit.
But it is a little strange to see Kwan hit so much on enemy ground. Hopefully, he can even this split out and become an even better hitter next season.
