Guardians’ Steven Kwan Hitting Effectively When Facing Adversity In 2024
Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan has put together a remarkable campaign at the plate so far this season.
Through 46 games, the 26-year-old is hitting an impressive .396 with 74 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 20 RBI, a .457 on-base percentage, a .556 slugging percentage, and a 1.013 OPS. He has also drawn 19 walks compared to just 15 strikeouts in 209 plate appearances.
But Kwan might be hitting his best this season when facing adversity in the batter’s box.
According to Luke Potosky on X, the two-time reigning American League Gold Glove Award winner is hitting .486 in 70 plate appearances behind in the count this year. This mark is the best through an MLB team’s first 72 games of a season since at least 1950 (minimum 50 plate appearances).
HIGHEST MLB AVG WHEN BEHIND IN THE COUNT SINCE AT LEAST 1950 (min. 50PA, thru 72 team G) 📊:
— Luke Potosky (@LukePotosky) June 20, 2024
STEVEN KWAN (2024, .486, 70PA)
Adam Lind (2013, .449, 69PA)
Jackie Robinson (1950, .444, 55PA)
Tony Gwynn (1998, .415, 54PA)
Yadier Molina (2008, .412, 64PA)#ForTheLand | #VoteGuards pic.twitter.com/lfYHoHKc1K
Kwan’s rate exceeds that of Hall-of-Fame hitters Tony Gwynn (1998) and Jackie Robinson (1950). The two would go on to hit .321 and .328, respectively, while both were named MLB All-Stars and finished 15th in the National League MVP voting in their respective seasons.
Kwan currently owns the American League’s longest active hitting streak at 14 games, extending it on Wednesday with a leadoff double in Cleveland’s 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners. During this stretch, he is hitting .500 (27-for-54) with 15 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, and a 1.275 OPS.
After Wednesday’s game, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt was asked what makes Kwan one of MLB’s premier leadoff hitters.
“His ability to make contact, his ability to hit the ball hard when he needs to and take what the pitcher gives him when he needs to,” Vogt said. “That’s just who he is. He makes you beat him, he doesn’t beat himself very often.”
LOGAN POTOSKY
Logan Potosky is an aspiring play-by-play sports broadcaster who, to date, has called approximately 350+ hours of professional, college, and high school sporting events. He is currently the Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. He graduated from John Carroll University in May of 2023 with a degree in Communication, with a concentration in Digital Media, and a minor in Entrepreneurship.