CLEVELAND -- The Guardians placed Steven Kwan on the bereavement/family medical emergency list, and in a corresponding move on Friday selected fellow outfielder Stuart Fairchild from Triple-A Columbus.
The Guardians also transferred infielder Gabriel Arias (left hamstring strain) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL, in a procedural move to make space for Fairchild on the 40-man roster.
A player may spend three to seven days on the bereavement/family medical emergency list, meaning Kwan likely will miss the entirety of this weekend’s series against the Red Sox at Progressive Field.
The Guardians will open a three-game series against the Yankees in New York on Tuesday.
“Obviously our thoughts are with Kwany and his family as they're going through their situation,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We're going to miss Steven this weekend.”
The Guardians signed Fairchild to a Minor League deal on Dec. 20, and he was a non-roster invitee in Spring Training -- during which he also represented Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic. The 30-year-old has played 277 career games in the Majors with the D-backs, Mariners, Giants, Reds and Braves (including 28 contests for Atlanta in 2025).
Fairchild, who was not in the Guardians’ starting lineup on Friday, brings a few intriguing attributes to Cleveland's roster. The Guardians embrace versatility perhaps as much as any team, and Fairchild has experience playing each outfield spot. He’s made 112 career appearances in center field, 82 in left and 73 in right.
Fairchild also hits right-handed, and the Guardians have just three other righty-only hitters on their active roster in David Fry, Austin Hedges and Rhys Hoskins. Cleveland’s only right-handed hitting outfield options were switch-hitter Angel Martínez and third catcher David Fry.
Fairchild has slashed .223/.305/.384 over his career in the Majors, which includes a .246/.343/.404 slash line in 329 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.
Over 40 games with Columbus this season, Fairchild slashed .289/.417/.479 with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs and 26 walks with 32 strikeouts. He made 13 appearances in center, 12 in right and eight in left.
“I felt like I was just being me, playing pretty much every day,” Fairchild said of his success with the Clippers. “Not trying to do too much. Just trying to enjoy where I was at, being where my feet were. They’ve got a great group down there. I think that made it easy just to relax and just play well.”
Fairchild has a unique relationship with his new manager, whom he previously called a teammate. He made his MLB debut with the D-backs on July 6, 2021, as a pinch-runner for Vogt.
Vogt led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single off Colorado's Daniel Bard. Fairchild entered to run, and he came around to score the winning tally moments later when Arizona’s David Peralta was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded.
“It's a full-circle moment,” Fairchild said. “He gave me a phone call before I even decided [where to sign this winter], expressing the Guardians’ interest in me. That went a long way in my decision. I’ve felt welcome ever since I've been here.”