Davy Andrews just lately wrote about Steven Kwan’s protection, which, as my colleague chronicled, has been demonstrably stellar. Not solely has the 28-year-old Cleveland Guardians left fielder been awarded a Gold Glove in every of his 4 MLB seasons, the metrics again up the accolades. There hasn’t been a greater defender at his place, and that goes for the senior circuit in addition to the American League.
After which there may be Kwan’s bat. The 2018 fifth-round pick of Oregon State College isn’t a basher, however he’s a stable contributor to the Guardians offense. Since debuting in 2022, the erstwhile Beaver has slashed .281/.351/.390 with a 112 wRC+. Furthermore — that is no secret for many FanGraphs readers — he seldom goes down by means of the Okay. Kwan’s 9.5% strikeout price over the previous 4 campaigns is the bottom amongst certified hitters not named Luis Arraez.
Grant Fink is aware of his left-handed stroke in addition to anybody. Cleveland’s hitting coach tutored Kwan within the minors earlier than shifting into his present position, and so they work collectively within the offseason. I requested Fink about two-time All-Star when the Guardians visited Fenway Park final September.
“If you happen to take a look at his profile as a hitter within the main leagues, it’s based mostly on accuracy and ball flight,” Fink informed me. “His key’s ensuring that his physique is shifting in a approach the place he can get his barrel to the ball in a number of locations within the zone, and that he’s making contact in the precise home windows to supply that constant ball flight.
“All through the minor leagues, he at all times had this contact capability,” the hitting coach added. “What we noticed in 2021 was a leap in a few of the ISO, the slugging energy. He didn’t lose his contact capability in doing that. His swing obtained a little bit quicker, his physique transfer obtained a little bit larger, and he was capable of tie all the things collectively.”
Kwan additionally introduced up 2021 once I talked to him in Boston. That 12 months, he homered 12 instances in 341 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. He’d beforehand gone deep simply six instances, hitting three every as an expert and as a collegian.
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“That spring was type of the place he and [minor league hitting coach] Jordan Becker type of helped me revamp my swing,” mentioned Kwan, who has 36 big-league residence runs, together with 14 in 2024 and 11 final season. “So, he is aware of me as a hitter. Mechanically, bio-mechanically, he is aware of my swing inside and outside. What we do now’s principally simply fine-tuning. You don’t wish to be like, ‘What can I work on? What can I repair?’ It’s extra, ‘Hey, how does it look? He’ll say, ‘good,’ and I’ll consider him.”
Kwan had simply come out of the indoor batting cage once we spoke. Fink had been in there with him, as have been assistant hitting coaches Dan Puente and Junior Betances. Participant-wise, Kyle Manzardo and Gabriel Arias have been additionally getting their pre-game work in.
Requested if Kwan had been engaged on something particular, Fink principally echoed what the outfielder mentioned about fine-tuning.
“It’s consistently about simply holding the bumpers on for him,” mentioned Fink. “It’s understanding what he does when he’s at his finest — what’s occurring together with his bat, what’s occurring together with his physique — and ensuring that his day by day routines are aligned with that. He is aware of precisely what he must do to be sure that his physique is shifting the precise approach, which in flip makes his bat transfer the precise approach. You pair that together with his method, and also you get the constant efficiency. He’s actually diligent in his preparation. That interprets to the sport.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Andre Dawson went 12 for 21 in opposition to Mark Grant.
Bubba Phillips went 11 for 21 in opposition to Mudcat Grant,
Harry Heilmann went 11 for 22 in opposition to George Grant.
Jorge Posada went 5 for six in opposition to Grant Balfour.
Lou Gehrig went 6 for 10 in opposition to Herman Fink.
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The Crimson Sox at the moment have uncertainty at each second and third base. Marcelo Mayer is on faucet to man a type of two positions, whereas the opposite might very effectively be stuffed by a commerce or free-agent acquisition (spring coaching proper across the nook, that clock is ticking).
Which brings us to a participant who began 32 video games at second base for Boston final season, in addition to 51 at first base and one on the scorching nook. No matter how his time is allotted within the forthcoming marketing campaign, Romy Gonzalez can rake.
“The roster has modified,” Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora just lately informed reporters. “Willson [Contreras] goes to play daily [at first base]. Romy goes to play second, however we’ll in all probability increase his position defensively. We’ll get him again to enjoying the outfield a little bit bit. We’ve obtained to get him at-bats. If you happen to take a look at the entire metrics — the entire good numbers — he hit the ball laborious. He was up there with the massive boys. He retains getting higher, which is an important factor.”
Gonzalez was certainly spectacular in what was a breakout season. Not solely did the 29-year-old infielder slash .305/.343/.483 with a 123 wRC+ over 341 plate appearances, he completed within the 99th percentile for hard-hit%, the 79th percentile for barrel%, and the ninety fifth percentile for common exit velocity.
One concern going ahead is the splits: Gonzalez logged a 162 wRC+ versus left-handed pitchers and a 95 wRC+ versus same-sided pitchers. Fairly than a daily, he would possibly finest be utilized as a multi-positional lefty-killer. Based mostly on Cora’s feedback, in addition to his barely beneath common defensive metrics, that appears the most probably state of affairs.
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A quiz:
Which pitcher has thrown essentially the most profession innings with out ever beginning a recreation within the majors? (A touch: he performed for 3 groups, completely within the Nationwide League, made 1,050 appearances, and was credited with 184 saves.)
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NEWS NOTES
The Seattle Mariners introduced yesterday that they’ll put on reproduction 1946 Seattle Steelheads uniforms on Sunday residence video games this season. In doing so, they’ll turn out to be the primary MLB workforce to have a Negro League workforce’s uniform as a part of their common rotation. The Steelheads have been owned by Abe Saperstein, who based the Harlem Globetrotters.
Harmful Danny Gardella: Baseball’s Uncared for Trailblazer for As we speak’s Millionaire Athletes, written by Robert Elias, was awarded the 2026 SABR Seymour Medal. The consideration goes to one of the best guide of baseball historical past or biography revealed throughout the previous calendar 12 months.
A GoFundMe has been arrange for Emily Waldon, who discovered earlier this week that her most cancers has returned. Waldon has lined the Detroit Tigers minor league system for a number of publications, together with Baseball America.
Zach Monroe, a right-hander who went 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA over 24 video games for the New York Yankees throughout the 1958-1959 seasons, died on January 18 at age 94. Monroe made one look within the 1958 World Sequence, permitting three runs to the Milwaukee Braves in his lone body.
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The reply to the quiz is Kent Tekulve. The submarining right-hander tossed 1,436-and-two-thirds innings whereas enjoying for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds from 1974-1989.
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Miami Marlins pitching coach Daniel Moskos was featured in final Sunday’s column, with the crux of his quotes pertaining to the NL East membership’s pitching philosophy. Left on the cutting-room ground was his response once I requested about Thomas White.
“He’s actually thrilling,” Moskos mentioned of the 21-year left-hander, who ranks among the many recreation’s high pitching prospects. “He wasn’t in big-league camp with us this previous spring, however he would come to the minor-league pitching workplace. I used to be hanging on the market so much, as a result of a part of our philosophy is to construct continuity, to have the identical messaging from the most important leagues all the way in which all the way down to the Dominican complexes. You’re going to listen to the identical issues talked about, the identical issues valued, all through the system. That’s the place my time was spent round him. However he’s a terrific child. He’s a hard-worker with numerous expertise. He has a shiny future.”
Drafted thirty fifth general by the Marlins in 2023 out of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, White pitched at three ranges final season, topping out in Triple-A. He had a 2.31 ERA, a 2.27 FIP, and a 38.6% strikeout price, with simply 55 hits allowed over 89-and-two-thirds innings.
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Sticking with cutting-room flooring, Joe Boyle was featured right here at FanGraphs this previous Tuesday, the topic at hand being the righty’s considerate method towards bettering his wayward command. Our dialog additionally included a quick dialogue of his arsenal.
When he signed his his first skilled contract in 2020, Boyle threw a four-seamer, a slider, and a curveball. He nonetheless throws the primary two, however the third has been scrapped in lieu of a split-change, which was added final 12 months. He toyed with a sweeper in 2024, however that too ended up in his again pocket — which isn’t to say it would reside there without end.
“I’ve the spin capability, and I’ve a supination bias, so I picked up the sweeper actually shortly,” mentioned Boyle, whom the Tampa Bay Rays acquired from the Oakland Athletics by way of commerce in December 2024. “But it surely was a type of pitches the place… it type of sophisticated issues. I might see myself including it again down the street if the sport dictates that. For now, I really feel much more assured with the splitter and the extra conventional slider.”
The College of Notre Dame product is throwing his slider tougher than he had beforehand. The Rays inspired him to do, and the end result was a velocity climb from 88 mph to 90.8 mph. His present membership isn’t accountable for the split-change addition, however they’ve performed a component in its utilization.
“I type of simply began enjoying round with it, as a result of I needed one thing else,” defined Boyle, who threw his latest providing at a 16.3% clip. “I type of stumbled upon a grip that produced a very good profile and was constant. The Rays noticed that and actually favored it, in order that they inspired me to throw it extra and consider in it. I credit score them for his or her encouragement in that pitch.”
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The five-team, round-robin 2026 Caribbean Sequence will get underway later at this time in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. The schedule might be discovered right here.
NPB is reorganizing its high farm league. Info might be discovered right here.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Maurice Van Robays drove in 116 runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1940, however that’s not what he’s most identified for. His declare to fame is the coining of a phrase. Requested a couple of excessive arcing pitch thrown by Rip Sewell, Van Robays replied, “That’s an eephus pitch.” He went on to clarify that an “eephus ain’t nuthin.” Twice a 20-game winner, Sewell would later have his signature providing taken deep by Ted Williams within the 1946 All-Star Sport.
Van Robays’ profession was comparatively unremarkable outdoors of the aforementioned. The Detroit native performed in Pittsburgh from 1939-1943, missed the subsequent two seasons serving within the army, then returned to the Pirates in 1946 for a ultimate marketing campaign. All informed, he recorded 493 hits, together with 20 residence runs, with a 95 wRC+.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Lookout Touchdown’s Kate Preusser wrote about Seattle Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs, who might be retiring on the finish of the forthcoming season, his 52nd in baseball and forty first with the Mariners.
Royals Assessment’s Bradford Lee wrote about baseball milestones which have been achieved in Kansas Metropolis.
Baseball America’s Matt Eddy supplied us with an in depth take a look at 2025 minor-league park components (subscription required).
MLB.com’s Benjamin Hill launched us to the 11 oldest ballparks in Minor League baseball.
Gaslamp Ball’s Cheri Bell wrote about how Ramón Laureano profiles because the San Diego Padres’ secret weapon.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Skeeter Shelton holds the MLB document for many plate appearances (43) and at-bats (40) amongst place gamers who recorded only one profession hit. An outfielder for the New York Yankees, Shelton singled off of Detroit Tigers southpaw Harry “The Large Killer” Coveleski on August 28, 1915.
Together with profitable Rookie of the Yr honors, Benito Santiago made 4 All-Star groups and was awarded 4 Silver Sluggers and a pair of Gold Gloves from 1987-1992. The San Diego Padres catcher had a 94 wRC+ over 3,000 plate appearances throughout that six-year span, in addition to 15.4 WAR.
Dom DiMaggio made seven All-Star groups in his 10 full seasons within the majors (which have been interrupted by three years serving within the army throughout WWII). An elite defensive centerfielder who was often called “The Little Professor,” the youngest of the three DiMaggio brothers batted .298 with a 112 wRC+.
Vince DiMaggio performed elements of 10 MLB seasons, recording 959 hits, together with 125 residence runs, and a 106 wRC+. He additionally fanned a good quantity. The oldest of the siblings led NL hitters in strikeouts in six totally different seasons. He made the All-Star workforce with the Pittsburgh Pirates in two of them.
Joe DiMaggio had 131 triples and 30 stolen bases.Brett Butler had 131 triples and 558 stolen bases.
Rod Carew had 3,053 hits, a .328 batting common, and a 132 wRC+.Wade Boggs had 3,010 hits, a .328 batting common, and a 132 wRC+.
The Crimson Sox signed Enrique Wilson as a free agent on at this time’s date in 2006. The veteran of 9 big-league seasons was subsequently launched that summer time, having by no means performed for the AL membership — however he was nonetheless well-known by the Boston fanbase. Wilson went 11 for 25 in opposition to Pedro Martinez, together with 7 for 8 with 4 doubles in 2003 whereas a member of the New York Yankees.
The New York Giants signed Jim Thorpe as an newbie free agent on at this time’s date in 1913. A twin Gold Medal winner (decathlon and pentathlon) within the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, the product of the Carlisle (PA) Indian Faculty performed elements of six MLB seasons, recording 176 hits and a .252 batting common. Thorpe is in each the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame and the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Gamers born on at this time’s date embrace Paul Blair, who ranks among the many finest defensive centerfielders in MLB historical past. Twice an All-Star, Blair was awarded eight Gold Gloves, these coming in a nine-year span (1967-1975) with the Baltimore Orioles. He performed in six World Sequence, profitable two every with the O’s and the New York Yankees.
Additionally born on at this time’s date was Clarence Nottingham “Chuck” Churn, a right-hander who went 3-2 with a 5.10 ERA over 25 aid appearances whereas enjoying for 3 groups from 1957-1959. His most notable moments got here with the Los Angeles Dodgers. On September 11 of his ultimate season, he was the profitable pitcher within the recreation the place Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Roy Face suffered his first defeat of the 12 months after beginning out 17-0 (Face’s 18 aid wins in 1959 is an MLB document). Three weeks later, Churn made his last-ever look in Sport 1 of the Fall Traditional, retiring simply two of the 9 batters he confronted in an 11-0 Dodgers loss to the Chicago White Sox. He nonetheless retired a champion: LA went on to seize the franchise’s first World Sequence title since relocating from Brooklyn a 12 months earlier.
