July 3, 2026
It’s only June, but Travis Bazzana is almost certain to break this rookie record before the All-Star break.
Bazzana has five home runs this year, three coming since he was inserted into the leadoff role.
Here’s the franchise leaderboard for home runs by rookies in the leadoff spot:
On Thursday against the Orioles, Steven Kwan went 2-4 with an RBI.
It was his 181st career multi-hit game from the leadoff spot, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the franchise leaderboard:
Through his first four seasons, Steven Kwan collected 649 hits, tied with Vince Coleman for 64th most all time
It’s also the fourth most in Cleveland history:
On Thursday afternoon against the Orioles, Steven Kwan hit two home runs, the 48th multi-homer game by a leadoff hitter in team history and the first since Cesar Hernandez in 2021.
Here’s the team’s all-time leaderboard:
On Sunday against the A’s, Angel Martinez collected three hits and a home run while filling in for Steven Kwan as the leadoff hitter. He’s the third different leadoff hitter to collect three hits including a homer this year, joining Kwan (twice) and Lane Thomas.
It’s the 10th season in team history in which three or more different leadoff hitters have accomplished the feat. The others:
In Wednesday’s win over the Dodgers, Nolan Jones went 3-3 after entering the game as a replacement for the injured Steven Kwan.
He’s the first player to come off the bench and collect three hits for Cleveland in almost 20 years.
Over the last 40 seasons there have been four others:
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:
Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor each topped 30 home runs in 2024, but David Fry and Steven Kwan tied for third with only 14.
It’s just the second time in franchise history two players topped 30 homers but no one else had more than 15. In 1934, Earl Averill and Hal Trosky topped 30 while Odell Hale finished third with only 14.
There have been two others times two players hit 30 homers while no one else hit 20:
Steven Kwan hit his 10th home run of the season on Tuesday night. He’s the 16th different player in franchise history with at least 10 homers from the leadoff spot in a season.
The others:
The Guardians selected Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana with the first overall selection in this year’s MLB draft.
Bazzana was born in Australia and, if he makes it to the majors with Cleveland, will be just the second Australian-born player in team history.
Cam Cairncross, a lefty pitcher, appeared in 15 games for the Tribe during the 2000 season.
There have also been only three players from Oregon State to play for Cleveland:
That number could rise to four if Matthew Boyd (currently on the IL) appears in a game later this season.