Guardians All-Star Steven Kwan sidelined with a wrist injury, 'day-to-day' moving forward
Kwan is dealing with a wrist injury after playing in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game July 15 in Atlanta.
"Kwani is going to be out day-to-day for right now," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said pregame July 18. "As you all know, he is battling the wrist [injury for] the last part of the first half [of the regular season]. So, we encouraged him to go play in the all-star game. He's earned the right to go play in that all-star game knowing he received an injection on Wednesday, so it'll be day-to-day until he's back ready to play, but we knew this was coming. We encouraged him to go play in the game.
"... The plan was for him to go play in the all-star game, go see our docs on Wednesday and then they would come up with [something]. We knew the injection could be a possibility. We've been talking about that for the last month while he's dealing with the wrist [injury]. So, it was just go see the docs on Wednesday, see what they say and then they did administer the injection."
Kwan hit an RBI infield single in the top of the ninth inning of the all-star game off Mets closer Edwin Díaz to the tie the score 6-6. Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals scored when Kwan slapped a soft ground ball to Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez on a 2-2 pitch with two outs.
Kwan is batting .285 this season with 103 hits, six home runs, 32 RBIs, 43 runs, 20 doubles, one triple and 11 stolen bases in 92 games.
Kwan, 27, is in his fourth major-league season and is a two-time all-star and three-time gold glove winner. Cleveland selected Kwan in the fifth round the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft with the 163rd pick out of Oregon State University.
Update on Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz
Major League Baseball announced Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz's non-disciplinary paid leave has been extended through Aug. 31 as it continues to investigate unusual gambling activity related to two pitches he threw earlier this season.
Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through the All-Star break on July 3, per an agreement with the MLB Players Association. He is not permitted at team facilities while on leave, which removed him from Cleveland's 40-man roster, though he is permitted contact with the organization.
"We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation," the Guardians said in a statement.
Update on Guardians pitcher Paul Sewald
The Guardians made a roster move July 18, with Paul Sewald being placed on the injured list and Nic Enright being recalled from Triple-A Columbus.
"Over the weekend in Chicago [against the White Sox], he was just experiencing a little more soreness than usual and [we] weren't able to use him," Vogt said. "So, brought him back to Cleveland, got a scan and he has a moderate teres strain [in his right shoulder]. So, he is going to be shut down for a period of time. No throw. Just really bad news for Paul and for us.
"… There's some damage in there that we just felt like we needed to shut him down and see what happens."
Update on Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias
Vogt said Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias is back playing in games as he recovers from a left ankle sprain suffered in a June 29 game against the Cardinals.
"Gabby is out on a rehab assignment with Columbus today, so that's good news," Vogt said. "He's back playing. His buildup, we will go day-by-day with that."
Update on Guardians pitchers Shane Bieber and Trevor Stephan
Vogt said pitchers Shane Bieber and Trevor Stephan are progressing well in their recoveries from right elbow reconstruction.
"Trevor Stephan is continuing with Columbus as well," Vogt said. "... Biebs came out of his last start really good."
Bieber recently struck out five in two innings and his next start will be July 22 with either the Columbus Clippers, Akron RubberDucks or Lake County Captains.
"Our pitching group and our medical group are all looking at the velocities, the movements, but really more importantly it's just, 'Shane, how are you feeling? Are you coming out with soreness? Are you coming out? Is it general soreness? Like regular soreness?'" Vogt said. "Or like he experienced his last rehab stent. So, Shane felt great and that's where we're at today."
Update on Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas
Vogt said outfielder Lane Thomas is "doing baseball activity" as he deals with with right plantar fasciitis.
"He's building back up to get ready to go out on rehab assignment," Vogt said. "He's feeling better each day. So, really good news on Lane, but he's just now getting into baseball activity."
Update on Guardians prospects Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana
Guardians general manager Mike Chernoff provided an update on injured Guardians prospects Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana.
DeLauter is dealing with a wrist injury at Triple-A Columbus and Bazzana has been sidelined with a right oblique strain at Double-A Akron.
"He did not play in the two games leading up to the [Triple-A all-star] break, rested over the past several days, got through the workout with tolerable pain yesterday, and so today he's ramping up to see if he can play and then we'll assess him and see where it goes from there," Chernoff said of DeLauter.
"He had been playing through the symptoms for the past two weeks, so we thought it made most sense since he had that uptick to give it some rest and see how it goes first, see where he lands coming out of the break," Chernoff said. "Like I said, he got through the workout yesterday OK in Columbus and then we'll see how it goes today as he ramps up for the game.
"… Obviously, we want him to be a healthy player, and I just feel badly for Chase. He's been through a lot this year and so to now have this issue that's been lingering a little bit, I hope we can work through it and he can remain healthy. And if not, we'll take it from there."
Bazzana was activated off Akron's injured list July 18.
"He had to deal with the injury setback, which it's rough for a guy who's a [No. 1 overall] pick and under the spotlight, but these things happen and so our No. 1 goal right now is just get him to a point of durability where he is fully built up and then continue the development.
"He's working his tail off even while he was on rehab. Not surprising knowing the guy, but at this point we're just hoping that he could finish out the season healthy and get as much out of it as possible."
'Awesome' all-star break for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt
Vogt said the all-star break was "awesome" after he was in the dugout with the American League all-stars on the staff of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
"Obviously, for my family and I get to go to Atlanta and experience that, for my children to experience that, it was just a dream come true. A great way to spend the all-star break and then absolutely nothing on Wednesday. And then we were back here for the workout yesterday [Thursday]. So, rested, ready to go.
"… It was great to go back to Atlanta, obviously got to win a world championship there [in 2021 as a reserve catcher] and good memories with the family. So all around, just a special time in Atlanta."
Vogt said his message to his players as the Guardians start of the second half of the regular season is to "keep being us."
"We said it throughout the 10 days [with 10 losses in a row] and you get eye rolls and you get all these things, but we have to continue to be us, and we did," Vogt said. "And then these guys rattled off six out of seven going into the break. So, continue to be us, keep working to get better, keep pushing, taking care of the little things. When we play good defense and we pitch well, we have an opportunity to win.
"I think the biggest difference was on that last road trip, we were getting the big hit in the moment we needed it and not just from the usual suspects, everyone was contributing, and I think that's what has us really excited. … Our guys are continuing to get better."
Guardians add Junior Betances to coaching staff
Vogt also announced an addition to the coaching staff.
"We've added Junior Betances to our coaching staff," Vogt said. "Brought him up from AAA to help the hitting team since Jason Esposito left for Vanderbilt. So, Junior Betances, after 34 years in the minor leagues is going to be a major league hitting coach for the first time in his career. So, we're thrilled for Junior, thrilled for us and really believe he's going to help us become a better offense."
Betances and Dan Puente are the assistant hitting coaches to Guardians hitting coach Grant Fink.
"The players are ecstatic," Vogt said. "The guys who have worked with Junior over the years, he's been a huge part of a lot of our players upbringing, development and Junior's just so ecstatic to be here. He's grateful. He's honored. He's ready to do whatever we ask and just excited to see him get the opportunity to be in a big league dugout and impact our hitters on a daily basis."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians All-Star Steven Kwan not in lineup today, injury update
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