Guardians' Steven Kwan passes first test in center field

Gold Glove left fielder makes debut in center, but doesn't have any fly balls hit his way

Feb. 26, 2026 at 12:03am

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Steven Kwan, the Guardians' Gold Glove left fielder, made his first start in center field on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers. Kwan played five innings in center and handled four singles cleanly, including a strong throw to the cutoff man to prevent a run from scoring. While Kwan didn't have any fly balls hit his way, the Guardians are hoping to get him more reps in center field to see how he handles the position.

Why it matters

The Guardians have a crowded outfield with eight players on the 40-man roster and three more on minor league deals. Manager Stephen Vogt wants to see how Kwan, a two-time All-Star, handles center field as the team tries to find the best fit for the roster.

The details

Kwan, who has won four Gold Gloves in left field, said the biggest challenge will be getting used to the different angles and reads on balls hit to center. He's excited about the prospect of playing center and wants to get as many reps as possible to see if it's a good fit. The Guardians also had to scratch outfielder Chase DeLauter from Wednesday's game due to 'lower body' soreness, adding to the uncertainty in the outfield.

  • On Wednesday, Kwan made his first start in center field for the Guardians.
  • In the spring of 2023, the Guardians tried to move career infielder Amed Rosario to center field, which resulted in three errors in the first three innings of a Cactus League game.

The players

Steven Kwan

A two-time All-Star and Gold Glove left fielder for the Guardians who is trying out center field this spring.

Stephen Vogt

The manager of the Guardians who wants to see how Kwan handles center field as the team tries to find the best fit for the crowded outfield.

Chase DeLauter

An outfielder for the Guardians who was scratched from Wednesday's game due to 'lower body' soreness.

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What they’re saying

“It will be fun to watch Kwan and just kind of see where it goes. Kwanie is one of the best outfielders in baseball and I think wherever we put him, he's going to be good.”

— Stephen Vogt, Manager (cleveland.com)

“I'm really excited. Just being able to go into the game and use what we've been practicing will be really exciting.”

— Steven Kwan (cleveland.com)

“The angles will be the biggest thing. Getting a good jump, committing to the jump is important. I don't have the blazing speed, but I can make up for it with a good read and convergence.”

— Steven Kwan (cleveland.com)

What’s next

Kwan will continue to get reps in center field over the next few games as the Guardians evaluate how he handles the position.

The takeaway

The Guardians are exploring ways to maximize their outfield depth, with the versatile Kwan getting a chance to prove he can handle center field. This move highlights the team's willingness to experiment and find the best fit for their roster, even with an established Gold Glove winner like Kwan.