Guardians Considering Moving Steven Kwan to Center Field

MLB analyst explains why the position change could benefit the team

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:56pm

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The Cleveland Guardians are considering moving outfielder Steven Kwan from left field to center field for the upcoming 2026 season. Analyst C.J. Nitkowski believes the change makes sense due to the spacious nature of Progressive Field and Kwan's strong defensive abilities, which have earned him 4 Gold Glove awards in left field.

Why it matters

Kwan is a talented all-around player for the Guardians, and a position change to center field could maximize his defensive skills and benefit the team. The move would also provide Kwan with more positional versatility to help the team.

The details

Kwan has been getting reps in center field during spring training, as the Guardians explore the potential position change. Nitkowski noted that with Progressive Field's large outfield, Kwan's defensive prowess could be better utilized in center compared to the shorter left field. The analyst also pointed out that Kwan's strong defense in left field makes him a good fit to handle the demands of center.

  • The Guardians are preparing for the 2026 MLB season during spring training.

The players

Steven Kwan

A 28-year-old outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians who has won 4 Gold Glove awards in left field.

C.J. Nitkowski

An MLB analyst who discussed the potential benefits of Kwan moving to center field for the Guardians.

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What they’re saying

“If I feel like Steven Kwan is a better center fielder for my team, I'm not worried about taking them out of left. I guess that's the point. Right? You're not in Pittsburgh, right? where you have a lot of area to cover, and you need a good defensive left field, or you can have some problems. That's it. That might be better off then, makes a lot of sense based on your ballpark.”

— C.J. Nitkowski, MLB Analyst (MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM)

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Kwan will officially become the Guardians' everyday center fielder for the 2026 season, as the team continues to evaluate the position change during spring training.

The takeaway

The potential position change for Steven Kwan highlights the Guardians' willingness to maximize their players' strengths and put the team in the best position to succeed. Kwan's defensive versatility and skills could make him an ideal fit in center field at Progressive Field.