The Cleveland Guardians are dealing with a roster crisis that’s putting their AL Central hopes to the test. With Jose Ramirez sidelined for at least six weeks after hamate bone surgery, they’re scrambling to find offensive production from unexpected places.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Cleveland entered the season as division favorites, but the Chicago White Sox are hanging right with them through the early going. The White Sox actually hold a slightly better winning percentage heading into Wednesday’s slate.
That’s where Steven Kwan comes in. The two-time All-Star who’s been Cleveland’s table-setter is struggling through the worst stretch of his career.
Kwan’s hitting just .211 across 275 plate appearances this year. It’s a steep fall for someone who was flirting with .400 at this point last season and maintained a .300+ average well into June the year before.
The decline is across the board. His exit velocity has collapsed, and the plate discipline that made him special seems off. There’s speculation his early-season neck issues might still be lingering, though neither Kwan nor the organization has made that connection publicly.
“At this point in the 2024 campaign, Kwan was flirting with a .400 batting average. Last year, he was batting north of .300 into late June. However, he is not generating hits at anywhere near his usual rate. And with Jose Ramirez out of commission for the foreseeable future, the Guardians desperately need their two-time All-Star to start pulling his weight again.”
What makes this situation different is Cleveland’s lack of offensive depth. They built their roster around Ramirez’s production and Kwan setting the table at the top of the order. Without both clicking, they’re asking role players to carry a heavier load than they’re built for.
The way I see it, Kwan’s struggles have made him the most scrutinized player on Cleveland’s roster right now. Every at-bat carries extra weight with Ramirez watching from the sidelines.
If Kwan can rediscover his timing and approach, it’d provide huge relief for a team that can’t afford to fall behind Chicago early in the season. But given how significantly his metrics have dropped, that might be asking for more than he can deliver right now.
