Kwan out of Friday's starting lineup after an off-day? Guards say don't read into it
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TORONTO -- Rare is it for Steven Kwan to not be in the Guardians’ starting lineup for a series opener, certainly one following an off-day. But those exact circumstances surrounded Cleveland’s leadoff man on Friday.
Kwan was conspicuously absent from the Guardians’ lineup as they opened a three-game series against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Second baseman Daniel Schneemann slotted atop the order, while Angel Martínez drew his first start of the season in center field as George Valera manned left.
So, how is Kwan doing? And what's going on?
“Kwany is great,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We were looking to get him two days off, and we wanted to make sure he got one of them on the turf. So just a chance to reset the legs. Playing center field is a new beast. So we just want to get him two days to get his body back underneath him.”
Kwan has had one game off (April 12) while starting 25 of the Guardians first 26 games this season. He has added playing center field to his tool kit this season, and he and the Guardians have remained mindful of keeping him fresh knowing his running workload would increase.
Kwan, however, has had a slow start offensively this season, carrying a .227/.315/.289 slash line through 112 plate appearances into Friday. For comparison, over his first 25 games in 2025, he slashed .343/.398/.505 in 109 plate appearances.
Vogt was asked whether Kwan bouncing between left and center could be affecting his offensive production.
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“I don't think it's affecting his bat by any means,” Vogt said. “I think it's just a new workload for him that he's never had in the big leagues. I don't think it's affecting him at all. I wouldn't read into this day off any more than just we wanted to try and get him two days off using the off-day.”
His slow start at the plate aside, Kwan has taken well to center field in the early going. He's logged +2 Outs Above Average, which was tied for third among center fielders with five players entering Friday.