Kwan saves the day with arm -- not once, but twice -- at childhood park

SAN FRANCISCO -- Steven Kwan’s offensive prowess deservedly gets a ton of attention, but the Guardians’ left fielder and three-time Gold Glove Award winner continues to show he also has a knack for making a big play in the field. Case in point: Tuesday night.

“Kwany is obviously one of our best hitters,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “But what he did tonight defensively, he stopped the game.”

Kwan turned a key double play in the eighth inning on Tuesday by recording his seventh outfield assist of the season. It helped the Guardians preserve their one-run lead in a 3-2 win over the Giants at Oracle Park, which snapped Cleveland’s three-game losing streak.

The Giants had runners on first and second with nobody out vs. Hunter Gaddis in the eighth, when Wilmer Flores hit a line drive to Kwan in left. Kwan broke forward and snagged it, and quickly noticed Casey Schmitt -- the runner on second -- came too far off the bag. Kwan unleashed an 89.7 mph strike to double him off.

Kwan felt fortunate that Flores hit the ball his way when he did. Schmitt reached to start the eighth on a line drive that Kwan knocked down but was unable to haul in. Kwan said Flores and Schmitt’s liners had similar trajectories, so he was ready when Flores hit his.

“That one that I missed before definitely kind of trained me to catch that second one,” Kwan said.

Gaddis got Logan Porter to ground into a forceout to escape the inning unscathed.

Kwan also snagged a Dominic Smith flyball down the left-field line in the ninth, when San Francisco had the bases loaded and one out. He circled around the 256-foot drive, caught it and fired a strike to the plate to hold every runner, including Jung Hoo Lee (the tying run) at third. It helped closer Emmanuel Clase escape with a save.

“He made some incredible plays,” Vogt said. “Even just the threat of his arm kept them from sending Lee there in the ninth. What Kwany brings to the table, it's consistency every single day, defense and offense.”

You don’t win three Gold Gloves over your first three seasons in the big leagues by accident. Kwan is one of the most elite hitters in the Majors, but he has the same work ethic defensively every day.

If the Guardians are conducting pregame defensive drills, Kwan will be out there. If they’re taking batting practice, Kwan (after going through his own round of BP) will be in the outfield. No, he doesn’t just stand there and casually shag balls. He takes every read as if it were a game, giving him a clear idea of how the ball is carrying that day.

“Defense never slumps, is what my dad said,” Kwan said. “But you have to keep working at it every day. Especially I think early on, I've had some plays that I haven't been able to convert, so I think it's just staying focused on it, not being complacent with any kind of past accolades.

“I have to work hard every day to try to help the team. And it's not natural talent. It's [outfield and baserunning coach] J.T. [Maguire] keeping us accountable and working hard and going out there every day.”

Entering Tuesday, Kwan’s arm strength on throws was averaging 87 mph this season (70th percentile in the Majors). He has a good arm, and another key part of that is his accuracy. Second baseman Daniel Schneemann just had to reach up to catch Kwan’s throw that doubled off Schmitt. Kwan’s throw home in the ninth got to catcher Austin Hedges on one hop.

“I feel like people don't talk enough about his arm,” shortstop Gabriel Arias said of Kwan through team interpreter Agustin Rivero, after he went 2-for-4 with a homer and a double. “He has a good arm, but for me, it's how accurate he is. It’s impressive how accurate he is and how consistent he's able to put the ball wherever he needs to put the ball.”

There was another special twist to Tuesday. A Bay Area native, Kwan grew up a Giants fan and attended games at Oracle Park. His brother, Ryan, even attended Tuesday’s game -- and he was sitting in the left-field stands, giving him a perfect view of Kwan’s defensive heroics.

“It’s surreal. It was really cool,” Kwan said. “Seeing all the same vendors, remembering where I sat. It was surreal. I had my brother out in left-center, which is really cool. It was a fun experience.”