For years, center field has been a revolving door for the Cleveland Guardians. If you ask long-time fans to name the last above-average regular, you’ll likely hear the name Grady Sizemore. If you’re under 30, Sizemore played for Cleveland from 2004 to 2011, with his last productive season coming in 2008 due to injury. That’s how long the position has been a problem spot—nearly two decades.
So this spring, manager Stephen Vogt is trying something different. He announced that Steven Kwan, the Guardians’ four-time Gold Glove left fielder, will get reps in center field during spring training. Kwan was the best defensive outfielder in baseball last year, according to DRS—Defensive Runs Saved. He saved a total of 22 runs, which tied him for the top spot at any position in all of Major League Baseball.
Guardians Trying Outfield Shuffle with Kwan in Center
On paper, the Guardians’ outfield has some flexibility, but not much thump offensively. Last year, Cleveland’s center fielders posted a .199 average and a .574 OPS. Right field wasn’t much better. The team cycled through five different starters in center: Angel Martinez (87 starts led the team), Lane Thomas, Nolan Jones, Daniel Schneemann, and Petey Halpin. Will Brennan and Kwan also made appearances at the position—Kwan in just one game.
New development: Steven Kwan will play some center field this spring, as the Guardians try to sort out their best outfield alignment. Kwan has won four Gold Glove awards in four seasons in left field.
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) February 19, 2026
Outside Kwan, only Schneemann finished with a DRS above zero in the outfield, and just Martinez managed an above-average wRC+ (123) at the dish—and that only against lefties. It’s clear something needs to change. But why move Kwan out of left field, where he’s won all of those Gold Gloves?
Steven Kwan will make his Cactus League debut in center field today vs. the Rangers.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) February 25, 2026
Let’s be honest: the Guardians didn’t add much offense this offseason. Outside of Stuart Fairchild (on a minor league deal), there are no new faces pushing for starting jobs in the outfield. That means the club needs to get creative with the pieces they have.
Pros and Cons
Sliding Kwan into center—even occasionally—lets the Guardians put their three most talented young outfielders in the lineup at the same time. Chase DeLauter and George Valera can cover the corners, especially against righties. It also spares DeLauter, who has significant injury concerns, from the physical grind of center.
There’s another angle, too: Kwan in center field boosts his trade value. In a league where only ten center fielders posted a wRC+ over 100 last year (led by Byron Buxton), a league-average bat with elite defense in center is a rarity.
.@robparkerMLBbro ranks Byron Buxton as his No. 1 Center Fielder Right Now 💪#Top10RightNow pic.twitter.com/5nnZtjbtbY
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) January 31, 2026
But there’s a catch. Center field is a much more demanding position than left, and Kwan appeared to wear down as 2025 moved along. His slash line by month tells the story:
- Mar/Apr: .322/.370/.466
- May: .308/.374/.413
- June: .244/.323/.360
- July: .255/.327/.372
- August: .214/.246/.268
- Sept/Oct: .279/.339/.360
He perked up a bit in the final month, but August was a struggle. By season’s end, his 99 wRC+ was just below league average. If Kwan wore down playing left field, what happens if he plays a more mentally and physically demanding outfield spot?
And then there’s the question of defense. Kwan has played just six games in center at the big league level, though he has experience there in the minors and college. Gold Gloves in left don’t automatically translate to center, and moving a player off a position where he’s elite comes with risk.
The Last Word
The bottom line is that the Guardians need more from their outfield if they’re going to contend in an improved AL Central. Moving Kwan to center probably isn’t a cure-all, but it’s a creative attempt to squeeze more value out of a tough roster situation.
“It’s a full blown experiment, so we’re going to take as much data as we can”
As #Guardians Steven Kwan is expected to get some reps in center, the 4x gold glove LF is paying attention to the details#GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/5w9DCj2vnq
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) February 20, 2026
Martinez will likely see time in center against lefties, but his defense there was shaky last year. Halpin is a great defender, but hasn’t shown enough with the bat yet. Jones has a big arm, but has underachieved at the plate. Maybe Fairchild emerges as a surprise contributor? In the corners, David Fry, C.J. Kayfus, and Johnathan Rodriguez all have opportunities to get looks as well. The options are there; it’s just a matter of who will actually produce.
Center field remains one of baseball’s hardest positions to fill, and the Guardians know it as well as anyone. If Kwan can handle it even part-time, it gives the team more options. If not, well, the search for the next Sizemore continues. Either way, it will be something to follow as this season unfolds.
Main Photo Credit: © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images