With his childhood role model looking on, Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan turned in a sensational catch Friday worthy of Ichiro Suzuki’s approval. Cleveland’s Rookie of the Year candidate also drove in a run and scored a run, but it was the Mariners who came away with a 3-2 win in extra innings at T-Mobile Park.
Seattle is honoring Ichiro by inducting the Japanese superstar into the franchise’s hall of fame this weekend, and Kwan marked the occasion by doing his best impression both in the field and at the plate. Through two games this week against the Mariners, Kwan has a pair of hits including a double, a steal and a run scored.
But the real highlight came in the fifth inning Friday when Kwan sprinted at full speed and dove head-first into the seats to snag a foul pop off the bat of Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh down the third base line. He emerged from the crowd and tossed the ball back toward the infield before crumpling to the dirt while clutching his side.
Manager Terry Francona joined trainers who attended to Kwan for several minutes after the play, but the resilient rookie remained in the game.
“I thought he was really hurt,” Francona said. “We probably dodged a pretty big bullet there. That was some kind of play.”
Kwan said it was scary when he was initially unable to draw a breath through his mouth after making the catch, but trainers helped him slow everything down and regain his composure.
“That was a little unique just because I had landed straight on a chair, so the end part of it just went into my chest,” Kwan said. “That was kind of new. I just got the wind knocked out of me.”
The 24-year-old, who grew up in northern California idolizing Ichiro, wasn’t finished. He stayed in the game, reaching base for the 17th straight game with a single in the top of the sixth and scoring to put Cleveland in front by a run.
FanDuel Sportsbook promo:Bet $5, Get $150 regardless if your bet wins or loses
DraftKings Sportsbook promo: Bet $5, Get 200 in Free Bets when you bet $5+ on any NFL, CFB or UFC
MGM Sportsbook promo:$1,000 Risk-Free Bet + 25
Caesars Sportsbook promo: $1,250 on us
Barstool Sportsbook promo: 2 for 1 New Player Bonus: If your first bet loses, get an equal free bet up to $1,000
Prior to the game, Francona said big moments never seem to overwhelm Kwan, and that he expected the rookie to be fired up with Ichiro in the stands.
“He’s fearless,” Francona said. “He’s all the things we talk about. That’s why we talk about him.”
Starting pitcher Shane Bieber had a different vantage point for the catch, not knowing whether or not Seattle runners Carlos Santana and Adam Frazier would move up once Kwan left his feet to jump into the stands for the catch.
“My initial thought was obviously like, ‘Wow, what a play,’ and then once I saw him go down, I was hoping he was OK because he’s obviously an integral part of what we’ve got going on here and he’s super important,” Bieber said. “It was a great catch, but we need him to be OK and healthy for the rest of the year if we’re going to do what we want to do.”
Kwan was heading to soak in a ice-cold tub after talking to reporters following the game, but he takes pride in playing consistent defense.
“Hitting can go up and down, but defense should never slump,” Kwan said. “If you’re really intentional with that and you put a lot of hard work into it, you should always be consistent and help the team. So, I always try to do that regardless of what I do at the plate.”
Guardians merchandise for sale: Here’s where you can order new Cleveland Guardians gear, including T-shirts, hats, jerseys, hoodies, and much more.
If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up