“The approach and frame show zero promise for game power. Despite having a hit tool that can carry him, none of the other tools are potent enough to play at the top level. He profiles best as a defensive replacement who can also get on base for you.” These are the words of Joe Drake, a professional scout for Prospects Live who evaluated Steven Kwan in a minor league game in November 2020.
Fast forward 1 year and 5 months…
In just his first season in the majors, Cleveland Guardians’ outfielder Steven Kwan from the Bay Area has made history. Kwan has now seen 115 pitches and has not swung and missed at a single pitch yet! Also, Kwan made history on Monday (4/11) as he was the only player to reach base 15 times in the first four games since 1901! He also set a record by reaching base 12 times in his first three games. The 5th-round prospect out of Oregon State continues to impress game after game and lead the headlines each day.
On the season, Kwan is slashing .625/.720/.875 recording an impressive 10 hits in just 16 at-bats! Kwan’s current OPS on the season is sitting at a high 1.392 due to his great eye at the plate and ability to create contact. In just seven games played, Steven Kwan has accrued 8 walks while not recording a single strikeout, leading him to a 0% K rate and a 29.2% BB rate. These video game numbers will surely
Like all habits, Kwan’s elite plate discipline and stellar approach at the plate started from a young age. On Sunday, Kwan told FOX sports, “I remember when I was younger, every time I struck out, I would want to cry. So I think I just told myself, ‘I don’t like to cry, so I just won’t strike out.” This experience encouraged Kwan to be even more disciplined at the plate and helped him develop his hitting skills. Throughout the minors, Kwan carried an impressive .311 batting average or higher except for one season and continued to show off his elite plate discipline.
While Kwan has elite plate discipline and contact skills, his power is what made scouts skeptical of drafting him. While evaluating Kwan at a minor league game, one professional scout wrote, “[f]ringe raw at best, but that might be a stretch. Small frame, average bat speed, and suboptimal swing path make it well below-average game power.” This statement holds true today as on the season, Kwan has a hard-hit percentage of 25% and sits in just the 10th percentile for exit velocity. Furthermore, throughout 3 minor league seasons, Kwan only totaled 15 home runs. Kwan’s ability to get on base, work the count, and average defensive ability should make up for his lack of raw power.
Steven Kwan will certainly not be putting up these ridiculous, video game-like, numbers for the rest of the season. However, his hot start at the plate, ability to generate more walks than strikeouts, and above-average speed/defense should make Cleveland Guardians’ scouts, coaches, and fans proud of his amazing accomplishments in just the first few games of the season. Kwan has an expected batting average (xBA) of .492 and while that may not be attainable, Kwan should continue racking up base hits, walks, and even stolen bases for the foreseeable future. Steven Kwan should not just be remembered for his hot start to the 2022 MLB season, but also as a blooming star for the Cleveland Guardians.
Matthew Suh is a staff writer and contributor for Talking Points Sports. While Matthew covers all sports including football, basketball, and baseball he tends to focus on writing about the MLB. Questions about the MLB or baseball in general? Follow Matthew on Twitter @matthewsuh for inquiries.
