Consider this the anti-announcer jinx.
Steven Kwan gave Chicago White Sox broadcaster Steve Stone an immediate reason to reconsider his comments about the Cleveland Guardians outfielder’s power-hitting abilities on Friday, Aug. 7.
During the sixth inning at Rate Field, Stone was discussing Kwan’s approach at the plate and suggested the outfielder was trying to be a power hitter.
“You are not a power hitter but trying to act like one,” Stone said.
Moments later, Kwan hit a home run to right field. Stone didn’t acknowledge the irony. After a notable quiet moment in the announce booth after the homer, all Stone had to say was it was Kwan’s second home run of the season.
The Guardians easily won the game 8-2.
Kwan has reached double figures in home runs only twice since making his major league debut in 2022, doing so in 2024 and 2025.
But the 28-year-old outfielder has been one of baseball’s hottest hitters since July 1.
He entered Friday leading the majors with a .398 batting average and .486 on-base percentage during that stretch. His production has helped raise his season batting average from .212 to .260.
Kwan hit .403 with a .484 on-base percentage in July, collecting 31 hits. He was 6-for-16 in August entering Friday’s game.
The surge comes at an important time for the Guardians, who are in the middle of a seven-game road trip that includes games against division foes the White Sox and Detroit Tigers.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘Not a power hitter,’ White Sox announcer says before Steven Kwan homer in Guardians win
Reporting by Dan Kadar, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Kadar, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
