Born inLos Gatos, California and raised inFremont, California, Kwan played three years of college baseball atOregon State University before being selected by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round of the2018 MLB draft. He was a member of their minor league system for four years before making Cleveland's Opening Day roster in 2022, quickly becoming a part of their starting lineup, playing all three outfield positions. Following the conclusion of his rookie year, he earned a Gold Glove Award for his defense in left field and was a finalist forAL Rookie of the Year. Kwan is a one-time MLB All Star.
Kwan attendedWashington High School inFremont, California, where he batted .462 as a senior in 2015.[1] After graduating, he enrolled atOregon State University where he playedcollege baseball for theBeavers. As a freshman in 2016, he played in 35 games in which he hit .215.[2] He later said that, as a freshman, he did not feel he belonged at Oregon State among their "high recruits." He sat out two months of the season and had to visit with asports psychologist.[3] His play improved in 2017 as a sophomore and he appeared in 55 games (making 42 starts), batting .331 with one home run, 18 runs batted in (RBIs), six doubles, and eight stolen bases.[4][5] After the 2017 season, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theWareham Gatemen of theCape Cod Baseball League.[6]
Kwan signed with the Guardians organization when it was still known as the Indians and made his professional debut with theArizona League Indians. He was later promoted to theMahoning Valley Scrappers, hitting a combined .346 over 17 games between the two clubs.[11] In 2019, he played with theLynchburg Hillcats, batting .280 with three home runs, 39 RBIs, and 26 doubles over 123 games.[12]
He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[13] Kwan began the 2021 season with theAkron RubberDucks and was promoted to theColumbus Clippers in late August.[14] He missed six weeks during the season due to a strained right hamstring.[15] Over 77 games between the two clubs, Kwan slashed .328/.407/.527 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs.[16] The newly named Cleveland Guardians selected Kwan to their 40-man roster on November 19, 2021.[17]
On April 2, 2022, the Guardians announced that Kwan had been named to the Opening Day roster.[18] He made his MLB debut on Opening Day as the starting right fielder on April 7, and recorded his first major league hit offKansas City Royals relieverScott Barlow.[19][20] After making his debut, he became just the sixth player since at least 1901 to have a five-hit game within his first three major league games, and also became the first player since at least 1901 to reach base safely 15 times in his first four games.[21] He saw 116 pitches before he swung and missed, the most for any batter to start his career since 2000.[22]
In 2022, Kwan had the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls in the majors (18.9%), the highest called-strike percentage in the majors (24.5%), and batted .298/.373/.400 with six home runs, 52 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and 25 doubles alongside 62 walks and 60 strikeouts over 147 games. Kwan's 62 walks compared to 60 strikeouts made him the first rookie to record more walks than strikeouts sinceDustin Pedroia in 2007.[26][27] On defense, Kwan was awarded the American League's left fieldGold Glove Award.[28] He was named a finalist for theAmerican League Rookie of the Year Award, alongsideAdley Rutschman andJulio Rodríguez.[29]
In 2023, Kwan had the lowest strikeout percentage in the AL (10.4%) and the lowest maximum exit velocity (105.2 mph), while batting .268/.340/.370.[30][31] He won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award for American League left fielders.[32]
In 2024, Kwan batted .292/.368/.425 with 14 home runs and 83 RBIs, with the lowest maximum exit velocity in MLB (105.6 mph).[33] He also won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award for American League left fielders.[34]
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)