AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2026

Steven Kwan

Rate Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame 3 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for Steven Kwan.

Q. Steven, what's been your perspective of watching Daniel Espino this year from Spring Training until now?

STEVEN KWAN: His journey in general has been really amazing. I got to see him a couple times years before during his journey of injuries all the stuff that's come up. He's always been a joy to be around, always very positive, forward thinking. So seeing what he's done this year has been amazing. He's super easy to root for, a great teammate, great person, great family.

So all the success he's had this year has been amazing, and the ball's coming out hot for him, so it's fun playing behind him as well.

Q. Kwanny, in a short series like this, how much can one win help with momentum and to get the ball rolling a little bit?

STEVEN KWAN: Especially with the games going back-to-back, anything can happen. It's hard not to feel optimistic when we have Parker and Gavin coming up from behind.

Obviously, got to take it one game at a time. But with how the games are laid out and then we have the home field advantage, if it gets to Game 5, that could be really exciting.

Q. Just what's the vibe walking into the clubhouse today?

STEVEN KWAN: Obviously, backs are against the wall. This is not you draw it up when you start the series. But I feel like there's some sort of -- I don't know even know what you'd call it, but the energy feels better today than it did the first day. Maybe the first day there were some nerves. We kind of got kicked in the face a little bit, and now I think everybody's just like, all right, we've got to have a plan now. We've got to stand on something. If we go down with the ship, we go down with the ship. But we have to be confident in something. I almost feel like that gives us a little more confidence and positivity going into this game.

Q. Steven, obviously, it's a little different than the regular season where you know you're going to face a starting pitcher and might have multiple at-bats against him. Chicago has obviously mixed and matched a lot in this series. What are the unique challenges of facing that kind of a setup when the stakes are this high?

STEVEN KWAN: Obviously, seeing different angles is really tough, in addition to most of them being lefties. Obviously, I'd prefer them to be right-handed. But they're really good arms as well. Their velo is 95-plus. They're landing their off-speeds for strikes. It doesn't really let you get into a groove. They're making really good pitches.

Normally with a starter, you can go in with a better plan the second time, but then you kind of have to reset all over again.

Yeah, we have the at-bats from this year, but they've been doing a really good job of mixing it up, hitting their spots. Yeah, they've been pitching pretty well.

Q. Steven, what are the 3:00 games like for you in terms of offensively and defensively with the different light and shadows and everything that come into play? How much does that enter your mind as you prepare for the game?

STEVEN KWAN: I think you said it right there. Shadows are going to be a big thing today. Cleveland, the same thing. Those midday shadows are tricky. I almost feel like you delude yourself into saying the shadows aren't too crazy. At home, we try to tell ourselves if the mound is in the shadows and the batters are in the shadows, then it's not so bad. But I think we're just lying to ourselves to make us feel better. It's definitely a different perspective out there, especially with the sun as well.

Thankful we had the practice day yesterday to kind of get a feel. But it definitely gets you out of your rhythm when you're used to the 1:00 and the 6:00 games.

Q. I don't know how closely you were paying attention, but how did you enjoy the workout soundtrack that was playing in the ballpark yesterday of sad '90s songs?

STEVEN KWAN: I guess that shows my lack of knowledge for the '90s songs because I didn't know they were supposed to be sad songs. We in the outfield were kind of singing along. We're like, we know this song. Schneemann and Petey knew them a little better than I did. The tempo wasn't so bad. But I guess ignorance is bliss in that standpoint.

Q. Steven, you played in just two games in the last nine days. Do you feel like that's a positive or a negative?

STEVEN KWAN: I feel like I've been saying the break hasn't been too negative because in '24, the break helped us going into a match-up against the Tigers. I felt like there was a positive being able to game plan for this.

I think it's just circumstantial. If we came out swinging, I don't think anybody would talk about the break. But because the offense has been lacking, people want to point toward certain things.

Like I said before, we have the routine of playing six games a week, five games a week. For it to slow down to two in nine, it's a little different. But we're professionals. Our coaching staff does a really good job preparing us. Just one of those things that we've got to deal with. I don't think it's something we can point blame towards.

THE MODERATOR: Steven, thanks for coming in.