Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan discusses the importance of mental strength in MLB, highlighting his standout 2024 season and the team’s journey to the ALCS. Kwan emphasizes the mental aspect of the game, especially when playing alongside players like Aaron Judge. He also praises manager Stephen Vogt’s approachable leadership style.
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Cleveland Guardians’ left fielder Steven Kwan has quickly become one of the team’s most valuable players since his major league debut in April 2022. In 2024, Kwan had a standout season with a .292 batting average, 14 home runs, and 44 RBIs, earning his first All-Star selection and his third Silver Slugger award. His performance was crucial as the Guardians won the AL Central and advanced to the ALCS, where they faced off against the New York Yankees and Aaron Judge.
In a recent interview with Nick Adgar on the “No Agenda” podcast, Kwan emphasized the importance of mental strength in professional baseball. He highlighted that while talent is essential, the mental aspect of the game is equally crucial. Kwan, who stands at 5’8″, often plays alongside towering players like Aaron Judge, and he believes that mental fortitude is what sets successful players apart.
Kwan said, “Baseball is a mental game. Look at me, a 5’8″ guy; I get to play next to Aaron Judge. No body type is the same, but the only similarity we have is being solid up here. I firmly believe baseball is one of the hardest mental sports to be part of.”
He further explained, “Nobody fails as often as we do on a daily basis and are expected to show up the next day and do the same thing. That could beat somebody down. You need a tool to be able to filter that and move to the next day. Mental strength is so important because it can manifest into something really nasty down the road if you’re not handling it every day.”
Kwan also spoke about his relationship with Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt, describing him as approachable and genuine. He said, “Vogt had an incredible feel for the team. He wasn’t the kind of guy who imposed his authority. Instead, he made sure we were all on the same page. He was easy to talk to and had a tender style of coaching.”
With the new season approaching, Guardians fans are hopeful that Vogt’s leadership and Kwan’s mental toughness will lead the team to further success.
