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'We are in striking distance': Steven Kwan confident Guardians can reach playoffs
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- 'We are in striking distance': Steven Kwan confident Guardians can reach playoffs
CLEVELAND — Guardians All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan experienced quite a day of uncertainty on July 31.
Was Kwan going to remain with the Guardians or be dealt before the trading deadline?
Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti gave Kwan the verdict via a phone call "nine minutes before" the deadline.
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"My heart dropped when I saw it, expecting something," Kwan said Aug. 1 before a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field . "I am sure he knew the magnitude of what that could have entailed. He was like, 'You can rest easy. We are not going to make any moves with you. I just wanted you to know before the deadline ended.'
"Because sometimes they process [trades] after, too, so he was like, 'I don't want you just to be in the dark about that.' That was really nice of him and I appreciate that."
Kwan , a two-time all-star and three-time Gold Glove recipient, is under club control through the 2027 season.
"It feels good to know where I am going to stay for the rest of the year," Kwan said. "No more outside distractions, and I am just kind of focused on what we have right now. I feel like we have enough to make a good run at it, so we will see what these next two months hold.
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"… It is exciting. We have got a lot of baseball left to play. I think we are in striking distance. I feel like we are kind of hitting our stride offensively. The pitching staff has always been great. We get on a good run, anything can happen."
Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan puts on the brakes between first and second base against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
The Guardians entered Aug. 1 nine games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division and three games out of a AL wild card spot.
"Kwany's a huge part of us and he's a huge part of Cleveland," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "I'm pumped that he's here. You never know. It's like we talked about, it's rumors. … We are happy that Kwanny is here."
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Kwan spent the morning of July 31 at a youth baseball camp at League Park in Cleveland. Heavy rain pushed the camp indoors, where Kwan met and took pictures with over 100 kids.
"The camp was fun," Kwan said. "It was kind of a nice way to keep my mind off of things. The rain was a super bummer, so I felt bad. I heard that there were some out-of-state kids, so that was kind of a bummer that it got rained out. It was cool. It was a good way to keep my mind off things, and then after that we just went home and did some laundry in case anything happened and had the TV on.
"… My wife and I, we kept it kind of loose and kind of easy, just whatever happens, happens. Like I said, make sure we have some laundry in case we gotta go, and if not, then we are ahead on our laundry to get ready for the next road trip. That seemed like a win-win."
Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan celebrates after scoring against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Kwan acknowledged it is "nice" that other MLB teams are interested in his services.
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"It is affirming," Kwan said. "You play the game right. You treat people the right way. Other teams appreciate that. I hadn't given it that much thought."
Kwan said seeing the Guardians trade pitchers Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald on July 31 to the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers, respectively, was "a bummer to the clubhouse."
" Shane has been a great mentor to me the last couple of years, especially with this trade deadline time, and Paul was a huge addition as well," Kwan continued. "He kept the clubhouse light."
Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo, middle, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Guardians win in walk-off fashion after trade deadline
The Guardians won 3-2 in 10 innings Aug. 1 with a bases-loaded walk-off single by Kyle Manzardo that scored Brayan Rocchio .
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"Kyle's been on the fastball," Vogt said. "He's not trying to do too much right now. He's hitting. We talk a lot about Manzo. There's a lot of expectations for him. He's right where he needs to be. He's swinging the bat great. He's gotten some huge hits for us. Right there, he's just trying to live in the middle of the field, and that was a beautiful swing."
Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo hits a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Manzardo said his objective was "to get a ball to the outfield."
José Ramírez singled in Kwan in the first inning, Rocchio singled in Carlos Santana in the second inning and Gavin Williams pitched six shutout innings with eight strikeouts.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Kwan received a loud ovation from the crowd of 32,777 when he came to bat in the first inning, and a large contingent of fans were chanting his name.
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"It was really special," Kwan said. "It just reaffirms, love the city, love this organization, love everything that they've offered me. I just really want to win for them and get in the postseason. Once you get in, anything can happen. I think that's our mission right now."
Kwan also flashed his strong arm to cut down Brooks Lee at the plate in the third inning after Austin Martin ripped a single. Kwan's throw was slightly up the third-base line, but catcher Bo Naylor was able to catch the ball and apply the tag.
"We have got a phenomenal group here," Guardians reliever Cade Smith said after pitching two shutout innings and getting the win. "The last couple of weeks, we have been extremely hot and we have been playing good baseball."
Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez hits an RBI single against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
José Ramírez joins elite MLB company
Ramírez stole second base in the first inning for his 32nd stolen base of the season and 275th of his career. He is the 17th player in Major League Baseball history to record 275 or more home runs and 275 or more stolen bases, is the first primary third baseman to turn the trick and the second switch hitter, joining Carlos Beltran .
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Ramírez is also the fourth player in MLB history to hit 275 or more home runs and steal 275 or more bases with a single team, joining Hall of Famers Willie Mays (New York and San Francisco Giants ; 646 home runs, 336 stolen bases), Ryne Sandberg ( Chicago Cubs ; 282 home runs, 344 stolen bases) and Craig Biggio ( Houston Astros ; 291 home run, 414 stolen bases).
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt walks back to the dugout after a pitching change against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Stephen Vogt remains confident Guardians can reach the playoffs
Vogt said he remains confident that October baseball is coming to Cleveland in 2025.
"The guys are energized," he said. "We're all here. We felt like we have been playing really good baseball going into the deadline.
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"… I love where we're sitting. It's been an up-and-down year. We've gone through a lot. We're gonna go through more. It's only inevitable, but to be three games back with 54 to go, you couldn't ask for a better position to be in right now. The confidence is high in that room. We've been playing really good baseball over the last few weeks and these guys get to continue to do that together. The vibe is great."
Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber makes a rehab start for the Akron RubberDucks on July 29, 2025, at Canal Park.
Saying goodbye to Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald
Vogt described Bieber as "one of the best human beings I've ever been around in this game."
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"Obviously, had to say goodbye to two people we love in Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald, which is never easy, especially Shane with what he meant to Cleveland and this organization and the pitcher that we all know he is," Vogt said. "It is a really hard thing. He was emotional, we were all emotional saying goodbye. I wish him nothing but the best. He is going to get healthy and go out pitch well and that is what we want to see."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Steven Kwan confident Cleveland Guardians can reach MLB playoffs
