The Cleveland Guardians manhandled the lowly Los Angeles Angels 7-1 on Saturday, but the resounding victory was overshadowed by a potential devastating blow. Rising star Steven Kwan, the catalyst atop Cleveland’s lineup, exited early with a troubling left hamstring injury that could sideline him for an extended period.
Kwan, who entered the game pacing the American League in hits, batting average and runs scored, reaggravated a previous hamstring issue while chasing a fly ball in the third inning. He moved gingerly while leaving the field and expressed grave concerns about the severity of the injury afterwards.
“A hamstring is always concerning, especially with my history. It’s not something to be optimistic about,” Kwan ominously told reporters after the game. The 25-year-old outfielder is scheduled for an MRI on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury.
Already missing big bats Josh Naylor and Josh Bell, the Guardians can ill-afford to lose Kwan’s blazing start from the leadoff spot. His offensive brilliance and all-around stellar play has been a driving force behind Cleveland’s unexpected rise to near the top of the AL Central standings.
While Kwan’s status looms in limbo, the Guardians put an old-fashioned beatdown on the hapless Angels on the field Saturday. Veteran catcher Austin Hedges kicked off the onslaught, absolutely demolishing a two-run bomb over the left field wall off Los Angeles starter Reid Detmers in the second inning. Hedges’ unbridled enthusiasm was on full display as he celebrated wildly after circling the bases.
An inning later, newly acquired outfielder Ramon Laureano went oppo taco for his first big fly in a Guardians uniform, extending the lead to 3-0. But the biggest blow came courtesy of rookie slugger Bo Naylor, who crushed a no-doubter grand slam to left-center in the fifth to blow it open at 7-0. It was the young catcher’s third grand salami already in his fledgling big league career.
On the mound for Cleveland, right-hander Ben Lively put together another solid outing with six innings of one-run ball. He ran into a bit of trouble in the fifth by losing his release point temporarily, but managed to dance out of the jam with minimal damage. The Guardians’ shutdown bullpen took it from there, with Nick Sandlin, Cade Smith and Scott Barlow each firing a scoreless frame.
For the reeling Angels, Reid Detmers worked into the sixth despite getting tagged for the bulk of Cleveland’s offensive outburst. The 23-year-old lefty showed some positive signs, but continues to lack consistency as he tries to establish himself as a big league starter.
While the Guardians celebrated winning for the fifth time in six games, all eyes were focused squarely on Kwan’s status moving forward. A lengthy absence for the sparkplug leadoff man could press Cleveland into calling up one of their top hitting prospects like Kyle Manzardo, Jonathan Rodriguez or Daniel Schneemann for an extended audition.
Around Major League Baseball on Saturday, the red-hot Minnesota Twins won their 12th consecutive game to further tighten their grip on the AL Central division lead. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals both dropped games, falling further behind the upstart Guardians.
Elsewhere, baseball fans and culture enthusiasts alike were buzzing about the awesome custom Star Wars-themed bat being wielded by rising rookie slugger Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles. The one-of-a-kind piece is drawing rave reviews for its intricately designed lightsaber handle knob and detailed graphic work.
While Saturday’s lopsided win was certainly a feather in Cleveland’s cap, the overriding concern is the health of Kwan’s hamstring as the Guardians try to position themselves for a deep postseason run. The athletic training staff will assuredly handle his recovery with kid gloves, as losing the blossoming star would create a considerable void atop the lineup and in the outfield.
Kwan has taken the league by storm with his electrifying all-around play and gritty demeanor. His relentless hustle down the line and tenacious defense have endeared him to the Cleveland faithful. Any prolonged absence for Kwan would be a “bitter pill to swallow for a fan base” eager to see the Guardians make a deep postseason run:
Kwan has taken the league by storm with his electrifying all-around play and gritty demeanor. His relentless hustle down the line and tenacious defense have endeared him to the Cleveland faithful. Any prolonged absence for Kwan would be a bitter pill to swallow for a fan base riding high on hopes that this young, upstart Guardians squad can make noise deep into October.
Losing their catalyst at the top of the order could be a back-breaking blow to Cleveland’s offensive production and derail their momentum. Guardians fans will be holding their collective breath while awaiting the results of Kwan’s MRI, desperately hoping he can avoid a long stint on the injured list. With the AL Central race tightening, Cleveland can ill-afford to be without their leading man for too long a stretch as they chase their first division title since 2018.
