JUST IN: Guardians welcome latest power surge from unlikely sources
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians might have a new power hitter emerging at the top of their lineup, while their cleanup hitter is rediscovering his knack for three-hit games.
Steven Kwan and Josh Naylor have switched roles, driving Cleveland’s offense to a series sweep of Toronto and a five-game winning streak at Progressive Field.
In Sunday’s 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays, Kwan hit his seventh home run of the season, setting a new career high. This marks the first time he has homered in consecutive games and three times in five games.
Since his return from the injured list on May 31, Kwan is batting .463 (31-for-67) with a .731 slugging percentage.
Naylor, on the other hand, notched three hits for the second time in five games and hit his 20th home run after Kwan’s in the fourth inning, tying his career high from 2022. Over his last 13 games since June 8, Naylor is hitting .346 (18-for-52) with six multi-hit games, 13 RBIs, and a 1.039 OPS. He is currently tied for fifth in the majors for home runs with Baltimore’s Anthony Santander.
These trends don’t redefine Kwan or Naylor at the plate. Kwan still leads the majors in three-hit games and is close to being the top hitter in baseball. Naylor remains Cleveland’s power source and a key protector for José Ramírez in manager Stephen Vogt’s lineup.
As both players gain more experience and understand their potential, Cleveland’s offense could soar. When asked about Kwan’s power surge since returning from a hamstring injury, Naylor praised Kwan as “incredible, as always” and highlighted his leadership as a leadoff hitter.
“When he goes, we all go,” Naylor said. “He’s an incredible teammate and human. His game speaks for itself. It’s an honor to have him here.”
Kwan acknowledged that the team draws energy and inspiration from Naylor’s play.
“He plays every day,” Kwan said. “He holds us accountable. If we have a minor injury, it’s like, who are we to complain? He’s our Ironman.”
As for Kwan’s sudden power surge, neither player could identify a specific reason. Kwan suggested multiple factors might be at play.
“Maybe just seeing some pitchers more, gaining more experience, having good plans,” Kwan said. “The numbers speak for themselves.”
Naylor added that experience is helping Kwan and the young hitters understand their potential.
“It’s year-by-year growth,” Naylor said. “You start to understand yourself better and take more chances. It’s about evolving as a player.”
Manager Stephen Vogt agreed that experience has significantly contributed to Cleveland’s success.
“We have talented players, and power comes with age and experience,” Vogt said. “As our guys get older and more experienced, they’re learning which pitches they can drive.”