The Cleveland Guardians were one of the best teams in the American League this year.
It was quite surprising to see given the fact they weren’t really expected to fight for a playoff spot, much less win the AL Central.
In the end, the Guards finished the season 92-70 and took the division crown with an 11-game cushion over the Chicago White Sox.
They played a unique brand of baseball that took them to the American League Division Series: they didn’t have a whole lot of power but made consistent contact, showed speed, grit, moved runners smartly, and had excellent defenders all around the diamond.
As different organizations start to hand out end-of-the-season awards, Guardians players and executives have been getting some of them.
Two Excellent Outfielders Are Getting The Recognition They Deserve
Two of their starting outfielders, Steven Kwan and Myles Straw, have just received a prestigious award.
“The recognition is just beginning for this ball club. Congratulations to @skwanzaa and @myles_straw on winning the Fielding Bible Award at their respective positions!” the Guards tweeted.
The recognition is just beginning for this ball club.
Congratulations to @skwanzaa and @myles_straw on winning the Fielding Bible Award at their respective positions!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/AFb5OcIb3z
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 27, 2022
Kwan and Straw were both phenomenal with a glove on their hands.
They covered a lot of ground and made crucial outs that looked like hits, thus helping their pitching staff and the team as a whole.
Kwan had 21 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 10 Outs Above Average (OAA) in left field, excellent numbers that show his worth.
Straw, the center fielder, was even better, with 13 OAA and 17 DRS.
DRS and OAA are the two most frequently used defensive metrics these days, as they give us an idea about range, positioning, route running, and other elements.
As long as the Guardians have these two roaming the outfield, their overall defense will be excellent.
NEXT: Guardians Executive Gets Recognized For A Special Season