Guardians Make Steven Kwan Move Ahead of Red Sox Series

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Segun Ajayi | Last updated May 29, 2026 10:00 AM ET

The Cleveland Guardians will be without Steven Kwan for at least the next few games after the All-Star outfielder was placed on the bereavement/family medical emergency list on Thursday, according to reporter Tim Stebbins on X. Under league rules, Kwan must miss a minimum of three games and can remain away from the team for up to seven games.

The Guardians plan to announce a corresponding roster move before Friday night’s series opener at Progressive Field. Kwan appeared in Thursday’s series finale against the Washington Nationals before leaving the team.

The outfielder went 1-for-4 during Cleveland’s 3-2 victory as the Guardians improved to 33-29 and stayed atop the American League Central standings.
He has batted .207 with a .329 on-base percentage, a .259 slugging percentage, one home run, 12 RBIs, 25 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 54 games. These are the lowest offensive numbers of his Major League career so far.

The Guardians placed Steven Kwan on the bereavement/family medical emergency list.

Guardians will fill vacated roster spot pregame Friday.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) May 28, 2026

The four-time Gold Glove winner has struggled to drive the ball consistently and entered Thursday carrying an 8.8 percent hard-hit rate, one of the lowest marks in baseball. The 28-year-old has endured the toughest offensive stretch of his Major League career this season.

His .231 batting average on balls in play sat well below his career numbers entering Thursday’s game, which suggests that some improvement could still come later in the season. Despite the offensive struggles, Cleveland still values his defensive value and contact skills near the top of the lineup.

Since making his Major League debut in 2022, he has built a reputation as one of baseball’s most reliable defensive outfielders while consistently putting the ball in play. Last season, he hit .272 with 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .704 OPS across 156 games.

The Guardians now must adjust their lineup during his absence as it will cover the entire three-game home series against Boston and could stretch into next week’s road series against the New York Yankees.

Cleveland Guardians center fielder Steven Kwan (38). Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Top prospect Chase DeLauter could see more playing time in the outfield, while Cleveland may also rotate Rhys Hoskins into the designated hitter role more frequently.

Cleveland recently dealt with another minor concern involving Kwan after the team scratched him from a game against the Toronto Blue Jays because of neck discomfort. That issue, however, is believed to be unconnected to his current absence.

The Guardians continue leaning heavily on strong pitching and timely offense while trying to maintain control of the division race. José Ramírez entered Friday batting .294 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs, while Cleveland’s pitching staff carried a 3.58 team ERA into the weekend series against Boston.

The Guardians will continue to monitor Steven Kwan's status as they await further updates on his return timeline.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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