CLEVELAND — Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan is one step closer to making his return to the team.
The 26-year-old, who led the American League in batting average before exiting a May 4 game with a left hamstring strain, is set to begin a rehab assignment with the High-A affiliate Lake County Captains on Saturday and Sunday.
The outfielder will make his Captains debut at 6:35 p.m. Saturday against the West Michigan Whitecaps at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake.
Kwan was placed on the injured list on May 5 and was expected to miss at least four weeks.
Kwan returned to batting practice last week, and manager Stephen Vogt said at the time that the two time Gold Glove winner was "progressing well."
“Still don’t have a timetable, but the fact that he’s already back to baseball activity is a good sign. He’s feeling well and been running relatively pain-free, so he’s on a good track," Vogt said.
Kwan was injured while chasing after a fly ball down the left-field line in a win over the Los Angeles Angels. Before the injury, Kwan had assembled 47 hits, three homers and 11 RBIs. The Guardians, who are 1.5 games clear of second-place Kansas City in the AL Central, have won seven consecutive games coming into a Saturday night road contest against the Angels and have gone 13-5 since Kwan went on the IL.
Kwan has become one of the league’s best top-of-the-order hitters in just over two seasons. He batted .298 as a rookie and .268 last season while playing 158 games.
Saturday's game will also feature another high-profile Captains debut. 21-year-old pitcher Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson, who has drawn eyeballs for his Minor League-leading 71 strikeouts as well as his 6-foot-1, 270-pound frame, will see his first High-A action after being elevated from the Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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