CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Since the opener in Kansas City, Guardians rookie outfielder Steven Kwan has been the toast of baseball.
Kwan opened the season by setting a Major League record by starting his career by not swinging and missing on the first 116 pitches he saw at the plate.
Kwan has reached base 20 times already, ranking second in baseball behind Atlanta's Matt Olson. He is second in MLB history (since 1901) in times on base in his first seven career games, behind only Cincinnati's Jay Bruce (22) in 2008.
We caught up with Kwan in the Guardians clubhouse Saturday afternoon prior to the second game of their series with the San Francisco Giants where he talked to 92.3 The Fan about his hot start and more.
What have these last 2 weeks been like for you as the toast of baseball?
“It’s been surreal for sure. I’ve been saying, I can’t believe I even made the team so having all this success that has come after that, I don’t even think it has really settled in yet.”
Has your phone stopped blowing up yet and how many relatives that you didn’t know you had have come out of the woodwork?
“It was funny, I have these cousins that the last time I saw them they were like four, and so now they’re 10 years old and they’ve got Instagram and they’re DMing me and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, you got so big.’ So kind of like that, but yeah, my phone has been blowing up for sure.”
You rarely swing and miss and are the definition of a contact hitter. Where did you learn that approach from?
“I’m obviously not a big guy so I’m not going to impact the game by hitting the ball out of the ballpark frequently, so I have to find other ways to impact the game. I could always touch the ball, use my legs a little bit so I knew if I could get on base for guys behind me and they drive me in, that’s where my role is.”
Being self-aware and knowing that you aren’t going to hit with power, how much does that make you an even better contact hitter?
“My mom kind of told me and preached that to succeed in life, you need to be [self] aware. You can’t have this inflated ego and this inflated worth of self. I know who I am and I know what my teammates are and I know they benefit when they have runners on base and I know I can get on base so kind of just putting those pieces together will make the team work.”
How much do you enjoy hitting second in the lineup?
“I like hitting second. I hit second in college. I hit behind Nick Madrigal who is with the Cubs right now and behind me was [Nationals prospect] K.J. Harrison, who I think was the best college hitter at the time. So I’m very familiar with that. Myles Straw is always on base, and I think Jose [Ramirez] is the best player in baseball right now. I know my role like I said and it’s just nice to kind of be that bridge between them.”
Right now they have you bouncing around a bit in the outfield. Where are you most comfortable out there?
“I’m definitely most comfortable in center. That’s where I played in high school, college and the minors but I played left in college in left as well so I’m familiar with that. I’m glad they find a spot for me.”
What do you want fans, who are just getting to know you, to know about you as a person and ballplayer?
“That’s a tough one. I don’t know I can’t say tat I’ve thought about it that much. I just want to win. I’ve won everywhere I’ve been in baseball so far and hopefully we can keep that winning attitude going.”
The Guardians were handing out Steven Kwan Fan Club cards on Opening Day. How wild is that?
“That’s so surreal. Like I said, I can’t believe they’re doing that. I can’t believe I’m in Cleveland playing for the Cleveland Guardians. All of it really is surreal.”
What’s life outside of baseball like for you. What do you do to decompress and relax away from the game?
“I’m a simple grandpa. On my off days I like to read, do some journaling, meditate, walk around a little bit. I like to keep it simple. Nothing too crazy.”
