Steven Kwan: Scorched Earth

Cleveland Guardians Outfielder Steven Kwan had an opening series to remember as he reached base fifteen times in four games.

The Cleveland Guardians may have their work cut out for them in the AL Central this season as the White Sox will defend their crown and the Twins have playoff hopes thanks to the addition of Carlos Correa and a hopeful resurgence of MVP-level Byron Buxton. Fangraphs has the Guardians making the playoffs in about 18% of their simulations, and winning the division in about 8% of them.

The season has only just began, and projections this early aren't exactly indicative of a team's potential. You never know which underdog team will muster up great win totals with upside, luck, and flair. The AL Central has question marks all throughout, especially with the Royals, Tigers, and Guardians and how they will fare against the league's elite.

Cleveland opened their season with two losses in Kansas City, falling to the Royals 3-1 on Thursday and 1-0 in an extra-innings pitching battle on Saturday. On Sunday the Guardians offense woke up, notching 17 runs in a blowout victory. They continued their rampage on Monday as they defeated the Royals 10-7.

The biggest story for the Guardians has been the blazing start by Steven Kwan, who has began his Major League career hitting .692 with an OPS of 1.789. He reached base a total of 15 times in the 4 games to start this season, the most in MLB history since 1901.

His production has been similar to Catcher Yermin Mercedes last season, but Kwan will hope to sustain it unlike Mercedes.

The Royals probably, and should have, pitched around Kwan today considering he was 8 for10 the three games prior. He walked twice today, and sealed the victory with a bases-clearing triple late.

Kwan said that this stretch has made him "afraid [he's] going to wake up," considering he has done what no other player has since certain metrics were recorded at the turn of the last century.

One thing is for certain: The Guardians have a lot to be excited about right now with their rookie outfielder.

Questions will come as Cleveland continues play, but moments like these are things to hold onto because they don't often show themselves.

Cleveland's social team has certainly had a ball with all of this:

Steven Kwan didn't shy away from the big moment, and his veteran approach as a rookie will pay dividends for a Cleveland team that has nothing to lose as they continue their rebuild.