The Cleveland Guardians are welcoming back left fielder Steven Kwan from the 10-day injured list, resulting in Myles Straw being optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Kwan had been sidelined for over a week due to back inflammation but has now been cleared to return, allowing him to shake off any rust ahead of the postseason. Despite a challenging second half of the season, Kwan managed to reach base 11 times in his last four games before his injury, and the Guardians clinched the American League Central division title without one of baseball’s top contact hitters.
Welcoming Steven Kwan back to the active roster today.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/hg8xfMSOIz
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) September 25, 2024
At the midseason mark, Kwan led MLB with an impressive .352 batting average and nearly achieved a .400 average in the first half. However, his performance declined significantly in the latter half, dropping to .201 for the Guardians. His earlier absence in May was due to a hamstring injury. Nonetheless, Kwan, a two-time Gold Glove winner, has maintained a solid overall batting average of .291 this season, along with 13 home runs and an outstanding fielding percentage of .995.
During Kwan’s absence, Straw rejoined the team after being designated for assignment earlier in the season and removed from the 40-man roster due to his struggles. When he went unclaimed on waivers, he opted to accept a reassignment to Columbus rather than lose his salary. He was called up twice against the Minnesota Twins—first to replace Kwan and later to pinch-run for Kyle Manzardo—but his appearance was short-lived as he was picked off at first base.
With Kwan’s return, the Guardians will have a five-day break between the regular season’s end and the postseason, hosting the ALDS at Progressive Field on October 5.
