GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- If Steven Kwan ends up patrolling center field for the Guardians on Opening Day in Seattle next month, don’t be entirely surprised.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Thursday that Kwan (who’s a four-time Gold Glove Award winner in left field) will also see some time in center this spring, a potential first indicator the 28-year-old may play there during the regular season.
“We’ve talked about it a few times, just with how we're comprised,” Vogt said. “Like, ‘Hey, there might be a time you need to go to center.’ But he's expressed interest in playing center at times, too.
“We're going to give it some looks this spring and see if that's what our best outfield looks like. He's wanting and willing to do it.”
Kwan has seen limited time in center in the Majors (31 innings over eight games), but played there extensively in the Minors (1272 2/3 innings over 152 games). He recognized Cleveland has many players vying for opportunity in the outfield this spring -- many of whom play the corners -- and expressed his willingness to play some center to help create flexibility.
“It was just like, ‘Hey, I know we're dealing with a lot of decisions in the outfield,’" said Kwan, who’s tied with Kenny Lofton for the most Gold Gloves by an outfielder in franchise history. “‘If me being in center makes things easier for other guys to find some spots, I'm all in.’”
Vogt noted nothing is set in stone here. Spring Training is an ideal time to give something like this a test run. But Kwan being in center could help the Guardians offensively.
Cleveland ranked 28th in the Majors in runs per game (3.97) in 2025, and it ranked last in outfield OPS (.629). Guardians center fielders hit .199 with a .574 OPS (both last in MLB), and their right fielders hit .202 (29th) with a .605 OPS (last). Among their myriad outfield options are promising young hitters Chase DeLauter (Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect, No. 46 overall, per MLB Pipeline), George Valera and CJ Kayfus.
Kwan sliding to center would allow Vogt to start two of those up-and-comers in the outfield simultaneously. Valera and Kayfus (who also plays first base) are corner outfielders. DeLauter has played more right (61 appearances) in the Minors than center (33), where he started in Games 2 and 3 of the AL Wild Card Series last year.
DeLauter is going to play both positions in the Cactus League, but given his physical history, it could make sense to be mindful of his workload in center. The Guardians’ other options out there include Nolan Jones, Angel Martínez and non-roster invitee Stuart Fairchild (who plays all three spots).
What the Guardians would be sacrificing is Kwan’s elite defense in left. Since 2022, he ranks first in the Majors in Outs Above Average (29) among left fielders. His Gold Glove streak to start his career is the third longest in MLB history, per the Elias Sports Bureau, behind only Ichiro Suzuki and Nolan Arenado (11).
“That's a factor in there. But at the same time, that's something I could pour more energy into,” Kwan said of his streak. “It’s going to be a lot harder. There's some great athletes in center field. So if I want to keep that going, I’ve got to play my 'A' game. And if not, we’ve got lessons to learn, and we go from there.”
Kwan's new frontier comes at a unique point for him and the Guardians. He is set to become a free agent after the 2027 season. Guys who can play center can hold more value, whether in contract talks or on the trade market.
Kwan has already begun reacquainting himself with center in conversations with outfield and baserunning coach JT Maguire. The differences between playing there and left field span beyond the greater physical toll exacted from the added running involved.
“In left field, you can kind of take a good break and then throttle down to readjust if your route isn’t perfect,” Kwan said. “In center field -- especially for me, because I don't have blazing speed -- I have to get that angle and just go and then adjust on the fly.
“But if there's any kind of hesitation, those are where you get exposed, and that's where you don't convert the ball [into outs]. I’ve just got to make sure my reads are going to be good.”
Kwan is looking forward to beginning his new challenge.
“I think it's just a cool way of not allowing myself to get complacent in left field,” he said. “This is a new challenge, something that I can be real intentional with.”