Guardians Season Preview: After four Gold Gloves in left field, Steven Kwan moves to center

Steven Kwan is probably the best defensive left fielder in the major leagues, winning four Gold Gloves at the position over four seasons since arriving in Cleveland in 2022. So, naturally, the Guardians plan on moving him to center this year. Feeling he is the most capable on the roster to fill the most important spot in the outfield, manager Stephen Vogt believes it's the best move for his ballclub to clear the way for a wealth of young outfielders on the corners that includes Chase DeLauter, CJ Kayfus and George Valera. And he's confident Kwan can handle the transition. "This is one of the best outfielders on the planet, and he's going to make the adjustments," the third-year manager said. "His work with (outfield coach) JT (Maguire) has been outstanding." Kwan, who led big league left fielders with plus-7 defensive runs saved last year, is greeting the position change eagerly, but with a side of trepidation. "A little excitement paired with you don't want to get exposed out there and get embarrassed playing a new position," said Kwan, who played center through his college days at Oregon State and during his minor league career, also playing a handful of games there for Cleveland in his debut season, and last year (one inning). "I don't want to say complacency, but you kind of know the reads out there in left. You know the walls, so it's easy to go through the motions. (I'm) kind of having a new challenge here. I'm kind of re-acclimating to what center field's like." Kwan, 28, has gotten used to standing in front of the Home Run Porch in left for the past four years, where he's been among the MLB leaders in outfield assists the past three seasons, topping the list last year with 13. He acknowledges it won't be the same in center, and doesn't sound like he's completely on board with the move. "It's definitely different. I think as a team that hurts us in a way because now I have to adjust and learn how to play center field and somebody else has to adjust and learn how to play left," Kwan said. "There's learning curves with all of that, growing pains. It might work out, but at the same time it may not. I know Tito (Francona) was very comfortable with somebody's comfortable, stick to the spot and they're doing well, leave them there. Even if they may play a position better than somebody else, you stick to what's working and what's been rolling. "Obviously Vogt will have a different kind of mindset, but that's kind of where I feel with it. I think we need to stress test as much as possible. The biggest thing is, obviously I'm really excited, but at the end of the day, if we find out that I'm hurting the team being in center, then we need to find that out sooner rather than later." Kwan's move to center fills a problem spot in Cleveland for years, dating back to when the Indians experimented with second baseman Jason Kipnis in center in 2017-18. Since then, Myles Straw, Angel Martinez and Nolan Jones, among others, have logged time there. Though Vogt backed off a bit as spring training wore down, saying only that Kwan would play some in center. "I think we're just trying to get him as many reps in center field to see how this shakes out," Vogt said. "We could also just throw him right back into left, and he's going to be right back." The Guardians are fortunate to have Kwan, an All-Star the past two years, in any capacity. The leadoff hitter, a notorious fast starter who has tailed off in the second half in recent years, was the subject of trade rumors at the deadline last season. Cleveland has been unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract with Kawn, who can become a free agent at the end of 2027. He's making $23 million on a one-year deal this year. "He's here now. We went through this at the trade deadline (last year)," Vogt said of Kwan, who hit .272 with 11 home runs, 21 stolen bases and a .705 OPS in 156 games. "As a player, when your name's being speculated, it can be hard and you never know how it's going to end up. But Steven got a really good dose of that experience this last trade deadline as media speculates. Anytime it's speculation, that's all it is. So we continue to love Steven Kwan and really hope he's leading off for us." Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.