Steven Kwan’s Stealth Quest for a .400 Batting Average
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Is This Pace Sustainable?
It might not happen, but watching Steven Kwan's pursuit is incredibly exciting. Even if Kwan ends up "settling" for a batting title, it would be the first for a Cleveland player since Bobby Avila in 1954.
Kwan's impressive start to the year is thrilling, especially in an era dominated by 100 mph fastballs and daunting breaking pitches. Quietly, he's making significant progress toward a historic achievement that hasn't received enough attention. If he maintains this pace for a few more weeks, he's likely to start capturing more headlines and gaining recognition as he continues his march toward history.
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The Quest for .400
One of the subtler narratives unfolding in the 2024 MLB season is Steven Kwan's pursuit of a .400 batting average. The Cleveland Guardians' left fielder is quietly aiming to achieve a feat last accomplished by Ted Williams in 1941.
Contrast this with last year's media frenzy around Luis Arraez, whose chase for the same milestone dominated headlines from June to August. Despite the intense coverage, Arraez ended the season with a .354 average, leading the league but falling short of .400.
Now, as the season hasn't yet reached its midpoint, Kwan's similar quest is notably underreported. Yet, his performance deserves as much attention as Arraez received.
Kwan and Arraez share similar playing styles; both are not power hitters but excel at making contact and walking more often than striking out. They epitomize "slap hitters" — consistently getting on base and skillfully navigating their way to success, one hit at a time.
The Significance of .400
Achieving a season batting average over .400 is a rarity in modern baseball. Not since the early 2000s have players like Ichiro in 2004, Nomar Garciaparra and Todd Helton in 2000 approached the mark, each topping out at .372, while Barry Bonds reached .370 in 2002. Since then, no one has surpassed .370.
Historically, 42 players have hit .400 in a season, most of them before 1900. Ted Williams was the last MLB player to do it in 1941, and four Negro League players achieved it between 1943 and 1948.
Just last year, Luis Arraez led the league with a .354 average, nearly 20 points ahead of Ronald Acuna Jr., who finished second at .337.
This season, the difference between Steven Kwan and his competitors is even more pronounced. As of today, Kwan's batting average stands at .398. The next closest, Trea Turner, has a .340 average with a minimum of 150 plate appearances, followed by LaMonte Wade Jr. at .333. Among qualified hitters, Bobby Witt Jr. leads with a .323 average.
Kwan’s Special Season
As of Thursday, Steven Kwan boasts an impressive .397 batting average through 205 plate appearances. Currently, he's not eligible for the batting title due to time missed earlier in the season with an injury, but maintaining his health should allow him to reach the required 502 plate appearances to qualify, regardless of whether he hits .400.
Kwan also has a .554 slugging percentage and a 1.010 OPS, stats that would place him among the league leaders if he were eligible. A glance at his Baseball Savant profile reveals that Kwan excels in almost all aspects of the game. He avoids swinging at poor pitches and rarely strikes out, consistently makes solid contact, and provides above-average defense in the outfield. Additionally, he is on a 24-game on-base streak that started at the end of April. What more could one ask for in a player?
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Getting the Manager’s Vogt of Confidence
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who brings a decade of major league experience and a deep understanding of hitting, is cautious about committing to such a milestone for Kwan this early in the season. However, he acknowledges that his left fielder possesses the skills necessary to achieve it. This view is shared by another manager from outside the team. Scott Servais of the Mariners conveyed that Kwan is among the select few players in the league with the contact abilities required to bat .400, a significant endorsement of Kwan's talent.
Is This Pace Sustainable?
It might not happen, but watching Steven Kwan's pursuit is incredibly exciting. Even if Kwan ends up "settling" for a batting title, it would be the first for a Cleveland player since Bobby Avila in 1954.
Kwan's impressive start to the year is thrilling, especially in an era dominated by 100 mph fastballs and daunting breaking pitches. Quietly, he's making significant progress toward a historic achievement that hasn't received enough attention. If he maintains this pace for a few more weeks, he's likely to start capturing more headlines and gaining recognition as he continues his march toward history.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
The Quest for .400
One of the subtler narratives unfolding in the 2024 MLB season is Steven Kwan's pursuit of a .400 batting average. The Cleveland Guardians' left fielder is quietly aiming to achieve a feat last accomplished by Ted Williams in 1941.
Contrast this with last year's media frenzy around Luis Arraez, whose chase for the same milestone dominated headlines from June to August. Despite the intense coverage, Arraez ended the season with a .354 average, leading the league but falling short of .400.
Now, as the season hasn't yet reached its midpoint, Kwan's similar quest is notably underreported. Yet, his performance deserves as much attention as Arraez received.
Kwan and Arraez share similar playing styles; both are not power hitters but excel at making contact and walking more often than striking out. They epitomize "slap hitters" — consistently getting on base and skillfully navigating their way to success, one hit at a time.
