CLEVELAND -- Stephen Vogt’s final season as a big league player was also
“He’s a menace, and you know that when you game plan against him,” said Vogt, the Guardians' manager who spent the 2022 season as a catcher with the A’s. “He has a number of ways to beat you, and I'm just glad I get to watch it now.”
Thursday’s performance was a perfect example of that idea. Kwan hit his first homer of the 2025 season. He also dropped down an RBI bunt single, both of which were part of his 4-for-5 day that helped the Guardians beat the White Sox, 6-1, at Progressive Field.\n\nThe Guardians completed a three-game sweep of Chicago with the win, in their first home series at Progressive Field this season, after opening 2025 with a 3-6 mark on a nine-game road trip.\n\n“It’s huge for momentum,” Kwan said of the sweep. “Just seeing some wins come down, get some confidence for all the boys. We did a lot of good things, so hopefully we can take that to the next series and beyond.”
Cleveland had 10 hits (one shy of its season high) on Thursday and scored its most runs since tallying eight in Friday’s win over the Angels. It’s no surprise that Kwan, the club's table-setter at the top of the lineup, was at the center of it all.\n\nDown 1-0 in the first inning, Kwan hit a leadoff single off Chicago starter Jonathan Cannon. He came around three batters later on a two-run homer by first baseman
Kwan got off to a red-hot start last season, when he flirted with a .400 batting average into June. Over his first 12 games a year ago, he hit .386/.397/.526 (22-for-57). Through 12 games this season, he has a .356/.420/.511 slash line (16-for-45).\n\nHot starts are nothing new for Kwan. He entered Thursday a career .320 hitter in 82 games in March/April. What’s behind his ability to consistently open the season strong?\n\n“Maybe just the body is feeling a little fresher,” Kwan said. “As the season goes on, you get little nicks and some sore stuff. I think coming fresh out the gate, riding that adrenaline, everything's really new, is a good start. But I’ve got to make sure to stay on top of recovery and be as fresh as I can every day.\"\n\nHe looked fresh in the sixth on Thursday. With runners on the corners, Kwan laid down a first-pitch bunt single against White Sox reliever Bryan Wilson -- who did not attempt a throw to first base.
Kwan had never faced the right-hander in his career, and was given the option to bunt in the dugout from Vogt.\n\n“It was a great idea and ended up working out real well,” Kwan said.\n\nThe bunt single was Kwan’s fourth hit of the afternoon, marking his ninth career four-hit game and his 42nd with at least three hits. The latter is tied with Shohei Ohtani for fifth most in the Majors since 2022, when Kwan made his MLB debut.\n\n“Nothing new with him,” said starter