{"id":114755,"date":"2026-02-26T00:38:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T05:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=114755"},"modified":"2026-02-26T00:38:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T05:38:29","slug":"center-of-attention-steven-kwan-guardians-outfield-puzzle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/26\/center-of-attention-steven-kwan-guardians-outfield-puzzle\/","title":{"rendered":"Center of Attention: Steven Kwan and the Guardians\u2019 Outfield Puzzle"},"content":{"rendered":"

For years, center field has been a revolving door for the Cleveland Guardians. If you ask long-time fans to name the last above-average regular, you\u2019ll likely hear the name <\/span>Grady Sizemore<\/a><\/span>. If you\u2019re under 30, Sizemore played for Cleveland from 2004 to 2011, with his last productive season coming in 2008 due to injury. That\u2019s how long the position has been a problem spot\u2014nearly two decades.<\/span><\/p>\n

So this spring, manager<\/a> Stephen Vogt<\/a> is trying something different. He announced that <\/span>Steven Kwan<\/a><\/span>, the Guardians\u2019 four-time Gold Glove left fielder, will get reps in center field during spring training. Kwan was the best defensive outfielder in baseball last year, according to DRS\u2014Defensive Runs Saved. He saved a total of 22 runs, which tied him for the top spot at any position in all of Major League Baseball.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Guardians Trying Outfield Shuffle with Kwan in Center<\/h2>\n

On paper, the Guardians’ outfield has some flexibility, but not much thump offensively. Last year, Cleveland\u2019s center fielders posted a .199 average and a .574 OPS. Right field wasn\u2019t much better. The team cycled through five different starters in center: <\/span>Angel Martinez<\/a><\/span> (87 starts led the team), <\/span>Lane Thomas<\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Nolan Jones<\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Daniel Schneemann<\/a><\/span>, and <\/span>Petey Halpin<\/a><\/span>. <\/span>Will Brennan<\/a><\/span> and Kwan also made appearances at the position\u2014Kwan in just one game.<\/span><\/p>\n

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New development: Steven Kwan will play some center field this spring, as the Guardians try to sort out their best outfield alignment. Kwan has won four Gold Glove awards in four seasons in left field.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) February 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n