Steven Kwan has quietly emerged as Guardians early season MVP

The Cleveland Guardians have yet to play their 25th game of the season, but there is one player who has separated himself from the pack as the team's early-season MVP. That player? Left fielder Steven Kwan.

Normally, team MVP is a designation reserved for Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez, but the combination of it being the early-season variety and Kwan's offensive output up to this point has resulted in being given this title at this time.

Through 23 games played, Kwan is slashing .341/.400/.505, leading the team in batting average and on-base percentage while trailing only Kyle Manzardo in slugging (.575). The average and on-base percentage are expected, considering Kwan's offensive profile, however, the increase in slug is a welcome development for someone who has mostly been known to be a singles hitter.

Kwan is tied with Manzardo for third in doubles (4) and tied with Gabriel Arias for third in home runs (4). This increase in power production may have caught some by surprise, but it was clear that he was developing into a well-rounded hitter last season, and that has continued into this year. Kwan finished 2024 with 16 doubles and a career-high 14 home runs in 122 games played, and he is well on his way to surpassing those totals in 2025.

This early-season production from Kwan has helped in more than one way. Primarily, the contributions at the plate have covered up for the struggles of most of the lineup, with all but four players having a below-average OPS+ (100 is considered average). Kwan being able to hit for extra bases more consistently has helped make up for the loss of Josh Naylor this past offseason. Now, Kwan will never be Naylor or hit for power at a similar rate, but what he has done so far has made his trade to Arizona hurt a little less.

In time, Kwan's batting line will normalize a bit, coming closer to his career average of .288/.361/.401. The area that will be the most important to watch will be whether or not his power production can continue. If Kwan can keep his newfound extra-base output at a similar level, it could elevate the team's offensive ceiling to a level that very few thought possible, and that may be exactly what this team needs to get to the next level.