Steven Kwan Shocks MLB: Guardians’ Rising Star Delivers Another Historic Leadoff Performance

CLEVELAND — Steven Kwan keeps rewriting the Cleveland Guardians’ summer script, and the baseball world is taking notice. Clutch single caps latest comeback With two outs in the eighth inning Wednesday night at Progressive Field, the left fielder laced a line-drive single to right that plated Bo Naylor and lifted the Guardians to a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, the club’s fourth straight win. The at-bat encapsulated everything that has made Kwan an on-base machine since his 2022 debut: elite bat-to-ball skills, strike-zone command and fearless plate discipline. First career multi-homer game the night before Kwan’s late-game heroics came barely 24 hours after he belted two solo home runs against Baltimore, the first multi-homer performance of his major-league career. He now owns eight long balls on the season, matching his career high before August has even begun. A heater that shows up in the numbers Through 93 games, the 27-year-old is slashing .288/.352/.408 with 105 hits, 32 RBIs and 11 stolen bases while striking out in just 9 percent of his plate appearances. His 3.4 fWAR ranks among the top five American League outfielders, underscoring his Gold Glove defense and base-running value. Rising trade buzz—but Cleveland’s price is steep As the July 30 trade deadline approaches, rival executives continue to dial Cleveland’s front office about Kwan. MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that the Philadelphia Phillies are one of several contenders gauging his availability, though sources insist the Guardians have “zero urgency” to move a player who is still 2½ years from free agency. One league scout put it bluntly: “If you want Kwan, be prepared to empty the farm.” Why Kwan is so valuable • Left-handed contact hitter in an era of rising strikeouts • Gold Glove caliber in left and center field • Three seasons of club control at below-market salaries • Proven postseason performer (career .333 OBP in playoffs) Guardians’ stance Cleveland entered Thursday a game over .500 and just two back in the AL Central. President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti has historically preferred retooling around controllable young talent rather than selling stars in-season. Unless a team parts with multiple Top-100 prospects, Kwan is expected to remain the sparkplug atop the Guardians lineup. What’s next The Guardians and Orioles finish their four-game set tonight before Cleveland welcomes the first-place Twins for a pivotal weekend series. Kwan is scheduled to face a trio of right-handers, a split against which he owns a .312 batting average this year. SEO takeaway Fans searching for “Steven Kwan trade rumors,” “Steven Kwan stats 2025,” and “Steven Kwan highlights” will find the latest clutch hit, season numbers, and deadline chatter all in one place.