Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan finishes third in AL Rookie of the Year voting
Steven Kwan's rookie season that helped the Guardians win the American League Central and propelled him into the club's leadoff spot in the playoffs resulted in a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez won the award and Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman came in second. Rodriguez received 29 of the 30 first-place votes. Kwan garnered 10 second-place votes and 14 third-place votes.
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Kwan hit .298 with a .373 on-base percentage in his first taste of the majors, adding six home runs, 25 doubles, seven triples, 52 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. He also was awarded an AL Gold Glove for his defensive play in left field. The Guardians set a franchise record with four Gold Gloves in 2022, as Kwan joined center fielder Myles Straw, second baseman Andres Gimenez and starting pitcher Shane Bieber as winners.
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Kwan's 4.4 fWAR ranked 16th among all AL position players and third among AL rookies. Rodriguez and Rutschman both finished with 5.3 fWAR. It was a rare, rather extraordinary season for MLB rookies. Kwan's 4.4 fWAR would have placed him first among AL Rookies in 2021, 2019 and 2018 (2020 was a shortened season). Most years, Kwan would have likely done enough to win it.
Rodriguez hit .284 with 28 home runs, 25 doubles, 75 RBIs and 25 stolen bases for the Mariners, who earned their first postseason spot since 2001. Rutschman hit .254 with a .362 on-base percentage to go with 13 home runs, 35 doubles, 42 RBIs and four stolen bases.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: AL Rookie of the Year: Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan finishes third
