Steven Kwan makes MLB history with yet another Gold Glove win

While Steven Kwan’s 2025 season didn’t go the way he wanted at the plate, he didn’t let it impact his ability to be a difference maker in the field. We got official confirmation of that on Sunday when Kwan won the American League Gold Glove in left field. 

Kwan has now opened his career with four straight Gold Glove wins, which is the third-longest streak to begin a career behind Ichiro Suzuki and Nolan Arenado, who both started their career with 10 straight Gold Glove wins.

Kwan’s win ties him with Kenny Lofton for the most Gold Glove Awards by a Cleveland outfielder. He beat out Texas' Wyatt Langford and the Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom for the award.

Another year, another Gold Glove win for Steven Kwan 

Kwan finished 2025 with 22 Defensive Runs Saved, which was tops in the league among left fielders and tied for the most in baseball with former Guardian Ernie Clement. He was worth 5 Outs Above Average and finished in the 100th percentile in arm strength while also leading baseball in outfield assists (13).

Although Kwan’s production at the plate didn’t match the career-best numbers he put up in 2024, he was still a productive hitter at the top of the Guardians’ lineup and was named an All-Star for the second time in his career. 

Now it’s time for Cleveland’s front office to figure out if he’s a part of the team’s long-term future. He clearly has the talent to be a part of that, but his price tag is rising and he only has two more years of team control left.

All of the contract discussions between the Guardians and Kwan have crashed and burned, so this will be a pivotal offseason. 

He’d be one of the best outfield options available if the Guardians do decide to trade him. 

Elsewhere on the list, third baseman José Ramírez lost out to Kansas City’s Maikel Garcia, while Daniel Schneemann lost to Houston’s Mauricio Dubón in the utility category and Carlos Santana finished behind Toronto’s Ty France at first base. 

Ramírez has now been finalist for the Gold Glove seven times but has yet to win. 

The Guardians have built a roster based around pitching and defense, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they had so many players nominated for Gold Gloves (even if they only had one player win). 

Twenty-five percent of the selection total was determined by SABR’s Defensive Index metrics, while the other 75 percent was determined by votes from all 30 managers and up to six coaches from each team.  The utility Gold Glove was determined in a separate fashion, via a defensive formula calculated by SABR and Rawlings.