Steven Kwan Appreciation Thread

[smalls1129]

So where you rank Kwan for al LF, top 3, number 1 how about all OFs is he top 10, 5? Interested to hear how much he's improved his value with the new approach.

 

[CBBI]

So where you rank Kwan for al LF, top 3, number 1 how about all OFs is he top 10, 5? Interested to hear how much he's improved his value with the new approach.

As far as pure left fielders go, I would personally rank Kwan 1st, but the case could be made for Duran.

In terms of all outfielders... the only ones I'd put ahead of him for sure are Judge and Soto. Duran is also very good. I'd say Kwan is pretty comfortably top 5.

 

[macbdog]

So where you rank Kwan for al LF, top 3, number 1 how about all OFs is he top 10, 5? Interested to hear how much he's improved his value with the new approach.

Top 5 LFer, top 25 OFer. Needs to hit for more power.

 

[CBBI]

Top 5 LFer, top 25 OFer. Needs to hit for more power.

Top 25 outfielder is absolutely brutal

I genuinely can’t name seven outfielders that are for sure better than Kwan is playing this year.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Top 25 outfielder is absolutely brutal

I genuinely can’t name seven outfielders that are for sure better than Kwan is playing this year.

After Judge and Soto, it's basically take your pick from:

1. Durran
2. Harper
3. Kwan
4. Riley Greene
5. Kyle Tucker

I think Kwan, even when the rest of the MLB is healthy and guys like Trout come back, is a top 10 OF'er.

(It helps when guys like Mookie move to SS)

 

[CBBI]

After Judge and Soto, it's basically take your pick from:

1. Durran
2. Harper
3. Kwan
4. Riley Greene
5. Kyle Tucker

I think Kwan, even when the rest of the MLB is healthy and guys like Trout come back, is a top 10 OF'er.

(It helps when guys like Mookie move to SS)

If you’re talking Bryce Harper, he doesn’t even play outfield anymore. He’s full-time first base at this point.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

If you’re talking Bryce Harper, he doesn’t even play outfield anymore. He’s full-time first base at this point.

Fuck you're right.

Slipped one past the goalie.

Top 6!

Any chance Kyle Tucker moved out of RF? We can get Kwan into the "guaranteed" top 5!

 

[macbdog]

Top 25 outfielder is absolutely brutal

I genuinely can’t name seven outfielders that are for sure better than Kwan is playing this year.

Wow, you think he belongs out of the top 25? Kwan has had a great run, this year, but follows a very mediocre 2023. If I consider him to be for real, then so are Tyler Oneill, Jaren Durren, Riley Greene and Brent Rooker. That is in LF alone, which is actually very strong. Thus why I have him at 5; just swap Yordan Alvarez for O'Neill, who I'll put at 6. As for OFers I rank ahead of him, in no particular order:

Judge
Soto
Rooker
Alvarez
Durren
Alvarez
Tucker

I think Kwan then inserts around there, with Tyler Oneill, Christian Yelich, Bryan Reynolds and Jurickson Profar. Dalton Varsho's WAR is also in there, because I know you guys believe in science. At the end of the day, power is king; no I don't think a plodding 30 HR/.200 BA hitter outpaces Kwan, but I also don't think .900 OPS Kwan is for real, either. I would like it to me, and if he can keep this up into next year, he catapults up to where y'all rank him. But if I'm being logical, I just can't place him there yet. His first half has been great, he's been prime Rod Carew; but let's see him maintain that before he gets ranked with living legends like Judge and Soto.

 

[MadThinker88]

Ronald Acuna anyone?
How about Fernando Tatis jr??
Or Julio Rodriguez???

I realize both Betts & Harper have been moved to the infield but both are ahead of Kwan if they are in the OF.

Top 15 is a fair and honest ranking (people can debate where in the 15).

 

[CBBI]

Ronald Acuna anyone?
How about Fernando Tatis jr??
Or Julio Rodriguez???

I realize both Betts & Harper have been moved to the infield but both are ahead of Kwan if they are in the OF.

Top 15 is a fair and honest ranking (people can debate where in the 15).

Acuna is out for the season with his second blown knee.

Tatis Jr. is very good, but Kwan is having a better season this year IMO.

Julio is having an actively bad season.

Like if you're going off career body of work, then sure, all three guys would be ahead of Kwan. But in the here and now, he's the best of that bunch IMO.

Judge and Soto are clearly better, but I'd put Kwan at least in the 3 thru 12 mix with everybody else.

 

[Alabuckeye]

Wow, you think he belongs out of the top 25? Kwan has had a great run, this year, but follows a very mediocre 2023. If I consider him to be for real, then so are Tyler Oneill, Jaren Durren, Riley Greene and Brent Rooker. That is in LF alone, which is actually very strong. Thus why I have him at 5; just swap Yordan Alvarez for O'Neill, who I'll put at 6. As for OFers I rank ahead of him, in no particular order:

Judge
Soto
Rooker
Alvarez
Durren
Alvarez
Tucker

I think Kwan then inserts around there, with Tyler Oneill, Christian Yelich, Bryan Reynolds and Jurickson Profar. Dalton Varsho's WAR is also in there, because I know you guys believe in science. At the end of the day, power is king; no I don't think a plodding 30 HR/.200 BA hitter outpaces Kwan, but I also don't think .900 OPS Kwan is for real, either. I would like it to me, and if he can keep this up into next year, he catapults up to where y'all rank him. But if I'm being logical, I just can't place him there yet. His first half has been great, he's been prime Rod Carew; but let's see him maintain that before he gets ranked with living legends like Judge and Soto.

I would view this as a “point in time ranking”. Last year doesn’t matter….Betts and Harper not playing OF this year are thus not counted.

what Kwan has done this year garners him a high ranking. If it’s a mirage and next year he’s .240 with 5 homers, he’s not there anymore. but he deserves it this year because he’s been stellar.

 

[PocketMonger]

Kwan needs to replicate this years production next season before he becomes a bona fide top 5 OF. His career OPS heading into this season was 739 with only 11 homers in over 1,300PA's. That said he's top 25 factoring in two way abilities.

 

[sportscoach]

Kwan needs to replicate this years production next season before he becomes a bona fide top 5 OF. His career OPS heading into this season was 739 with only 11 homers in over 1,300PA's. That said he's top 25 factoring in two way abilities.

This season he's top 5... But he doesn't have the track record to be a long term top 5 just yet...

 

[CBBI]

It all really depends on how you're framing it.

If you're looking at career body of work, then Kwan's probably in the 20-30 range.

If you're looking at this season and expecting what he's done in 2024 to reasonably be what he is moving forward, he's probably in the top 5 when you factor in defense and base running.

 

[smalls1129]

It all really depends on how you're framing it.

If you're looking at career body of work, then Kwan's probably in the 20-30 range.

If you're looking at this season and expecting what he's done in 2024 to reasonably be what he is moving forward, he's probably in the top 5 when you factor in defense and base running.

The bolded is specifically what I was thinking in my original question. I left it vague on purpose to get more perspectives but with how many spotlight segments MLB coverage has already given him this year I fully expect him to be top 10 heading into next year, at least in their eyes.