CLEVELAND, Ohio — Stephen Kwan might be the most complete player nobody is talking about nationally. The Guardians left fielder continues to evolve his game in ways that have the hosts of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast raving about both his offensive improvements and his defensive brilliance.
During the Guardians’ recent road trip, Kwan put on a clinic: hitting .333 (8-for-24) with two home runs and six RBIs. But it’s not just the numbers that are impressive—it’s how he’s generating them, particularly with his newfound power on inside pitches.
“You cannot pitch Stephen Kwan inside anymore,” Joe Noga declared on the podcast. “I think the word is going to get out to these guys. Don’t try and sneak one by Kwan on the inside corner. He’ll make you pay.”
This represents a significant evolution in Kwan’s approach at the plate. Always known for his elite contact skills and plate discipline, Kwan has now added the ability to punish pitchers who try to jam him inside — a development that makes him nearly impossible to pitch to effectively.
Part of this latest evolution might be attributed to Kwan’s experimentation with different bat types. As discussed on the podcast, Kwan has been using a “torpedo bat” during this recent road trip, alternating between that and his previous “hockey puck-handled bat.” Paul Hoynes noted on the podcast “he said he’s still gathering information on which bat he’s gonna use and maybe he’s found it.”
While his offensive evolution has turned heads, Kwan’s defense remains nothing short of spectacular. During the Pittsburgh series, he made yet another of his signature defensive plays —what the podcast hosts referred to as a “Kwan Throw” — nailing a runner trying to stretch a hit into a triple with a perfect strike to third base.
“It was almost like Clemente,” Hoynes observed, making the ultimate defensive comparison for an outfielder. “But instead of Clemente playing right field, Kwan was in left field and made that throw to third base.”
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This type of throw has become so synonymous with Kwan that younger outfielders in Cleveland’s clubhouse are attempting to emulate his technique — where he stops a ball in play and spins, his back momentarily to the infield, before uncorking a laser-accurate throw to cut down runners.
What makes Kwan truly special is his comprehensive excellence. He’s a three-time Gold Glove winner in left field, an elite contact hitter with a career .285 batting average entering this season, and now he’s developing power that makes him an even more complete offensive threat. Add in his baserunning acumen and baseball IQ, and you have a player who contributes in every facet of the game.
The term “five-tool player” is often overused in baseball, but Kwan is quietly making a case that he belongs in that rare category. His combination of hitting for average, developing power, defensive excellence, throwing arm, and speed creates a package that few players in baseball can match.
For Cleveland fans, Kwan represents the perfect embodiment of the Guardians’ organizational philosophy: excellent defense, smart baserunning, and a contact-oriented approach that puts pressure on opposing defenses. As he continues to add power to his repertoire, Kwan’s ceiling continues to rise.
To hear more about Kwan’s development, his experimental bat choices, and that Clemente-esque throw in Pittsburgh, listen to the full episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast with Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes—where Cleveland’s most underrated star gets the in-depth analysis his play deserves.
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Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.