Steven Kwan’s Guardians tenure has new life thanks to previously maligned move 

Earlier this season, one of the biggest storylines around the Guardians was Steven Kwan’s production (or lack thereof). 

While Kwan is still a beloved member of the Guardians roster, he wasn’t providing them with the offensive production he had become known for during the first three years of his career.

It got so bad that Stephen Vogt finally pulled the ripcord and removed Kwan from the leadoff spot, which made it seem like the end was near for Kwan's Guardians tenure. 

Instead, it’s helped Kwan look more like the kind of player that Guardians fans got used to seeing during the first four years of his career. 

Steven Kwan has found a new lease on life in bottom of Guardians' lineup

Although the .254 batting average Kwan has compiled in 19 games since being moved down the lineup doesn’t jump off the page, his .375 on-base percentage does on the back of 12 walks. 

But that’s changed a bit over the past couple weeks. After picking up nine of those 13 walks in his first five games after being moved down in the lineup, he’s been a bit more aggressive at the plate as of late and has recorded a .308 batting average over his last 11 games. 

And Kwan’s production at the bottom of the lineup has looked even better considering how things have gone at the top of the lineup. 

Travis Bazzana slid into the Guardians’ leadoff spot a couple games after Kwan was moved down the lineup, and has posted a .268/.311/.554 slashline in 14 games in that spot. 

Meanwhile, Kwan has helped contribute to the strong production the Guardians have gotten from the bottom of their lineup. 

Having Kwan hitting sixth or seventh and Brayan Rocchio hitting ninth means the Guardians have two quasi-leadoff hitters at the bottom of their lineup ahead of Bazzana (who has already racked up eight RBI hitting out of the leadoff spot). 

While it once seemed impossible to imagine a version of the Guardians’ lineup without Kwan at the top of it, that seems to have become the norm now. 

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some long-term ramifications, however. Now, most of those are good. The Guardians have tangible evidence that Bazzana is their leadoff hitter of the future and were able to turn Kwan into a net positive. 

But it does hamper Kwan’s trade value, whether that be at this year’s deadline or in the offseason. 

Last year the Guardians decided to hold onto Kwan at the deadline despite a ton of interest from teams willing to give up a pretty penny to get him. It’s hard to imagine that’ll be the case this year. 

Still, the frugal Guardians are paying Kwan nearly $8 million this season via arbitration, and his run of play since being moved down in the lineup has made that investment look a little better.

Not only is he still getting on base (.312 on-base percentage), but he’s also been worth five Outs Above Average despite swapping between center field and left. 

Even if Kwan’s overall impact isn’t where it’s been in seasons prior, he’s still an important part of the Guardians’ roster and has become a productive piece at the bottom of the lineup. 

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