Guardians’ Steven Kwan learned he’d bat leadoff in All-Star Game from his parents’ group chat

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Steven Kwan expected to hit eighth or ninth when the American League lineup for Tuesday’s 94th Major League Baseball All-Star Game was released. Instead, he found his name at the top of the scorecard, batting in front of Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and Juan Soto of the Yankees.

“I was a little shocked,” Kwan admitted to reporters at All-Star Game Media Day inside Globe Life Field.

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Equally shocking was the first place he learned the news.

“It was in my parents’ group chat, actually,” Kwan said. “They just love posting all stuff and sometimes they’ll just post stuff that isn’t even correct. So, they’re obviously parents and they just want the best for me. But I had to kind of do a double take and be like, ‘Is this really true?’”

To get confirmation, Kwan looked to Cleveland’s most veteran All-Star, José Ramírez.

“I asked José because I feel like he knows everything about that, and he’s like, ‘Yeah bro, of course you’re leading off.’”

Roberto Alomar was the last Cleveland player to bat leadoff for the American League in the 2000 All-Star Game in Atlanta. Kenny Lofton occupied the top spot for the AL in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999.

The reward for earning the top spot in AL manager Bruce Bochy’s lineup: A first-inning matchup against National League starter and rookie phenom Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh. Kwan told reporters that he had not even processed the information Monday, much less formulated a plan for Skenes.

“I’ve seen obviously some film on him and it’s been a pleasure to be able to watch him go,” Kwan said. “We’ll see what kind of plan comes out of it.”

Part of Kwan’s plan will have to account for Skenes’ vaunted “splinker” which mimics qualities of a splitter and sinker, making it difficult to time up.

“You have to trust your eyes,” Kwan said. “If he’s landing, that splinker for a strike, it’s going to be really tough. But I think splitters, sinkers in general are kind of trap pitches. If I can avoid going below the zone and getting out of my comfort zone, I think I’ll be in a good spot.”

The opportunity to face Skenes in a competitive setting will give Kwan a look at an elite arsenal of pitches that tunnel out of the same arm slot.

“We’ll go in the lab, we’ll find some stuff out, I’m excited,” Kwan said. “That’s a generational pitching talent right there, so we’ll see what comes out of it.”