Opening Day Leadoff Hitter
Steven Kwan is the Opening Day lead off hitter for the third consecutive season, becoming the sixth player in franchise history to hold that role on Opening Day in three straight years.
The others:
Tag: Brett Butler
- Acquired by Cleveland (as a player to be named later) from the Braves along with Brook Jacoby for Len Barker in October 1983, to complete a deal from August of that year.
- Served as the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter in each of his four seasons in Cleveland.
- Known for his speed. Butler stole 164 bases with Cleveland, including 52 in 1984. But he also led the league in caught stealing in 1984 and 1985. Stolen base success rate was just 69% with Cleveland.
- Led majors in triples in 1986 with 14.
- Delivered three walk-off hits for Cleveland, including one off Dan Quisenberry and the eventual World Series champion Royals in 1985.
- Became a free agent after the 1987 season and signed with San Francisco.
- Received MVP votes in each of the next five seasons after leaving Cleveland, including a top-10 finish in 1991. Made his lone All-Star team in 1991 with the Dodgers. Also played in the 1989 World Series for San Francisco.