40-man roster analysis: Steven Kwan

 As Indians' fans we are always looking for that breakout candidate who can become the next Joe Charboneau,   

Appearing to burst onto the scene this year, Steven Kwan was always on the edge of the radar as a Cleveland Indians' prospect.  To me, he is brothers-of-a-different-mother with Ka'i'i Tom.   

But that's it, really.   An undersized outfielder with little power, little speed and not quite the defensive chops or OBP to be a leadoff-hitter, center field guy.  He might project as a #2 hitter due to his good bat-ball-skills and he might even project to develop a little more power because he is only 23

But, still, unless something drastically changes about his game, and the only thing that could really improve to move that needle is his power, the guy is just and under-sized tweener who doesn't project to be any better than a good 4th outfielder on a good team if he reaches his ceiling.   Could he be more?  Absolutely if something drastically changes.   But, from my experience that is not likely to happen.

In a normal year Steven Kwan would be a guy who I would be begging to protect.   However, knowing all the tweeners I have seen over the years and how little they produced, and all the real prospects we have to protect, I would not roster Kwan and hope for the best.   Given what we saw when Tom was selected in the Rule 5 draft, I think I feel pretty confident that if we lose Kwan this winter, we won't be regretting it 3 years from now.

DECISION: Unless we make a GOOD trade in the next couple of weeks to clear some of our Rule 5-eligible prospects and some of our end-of-roster major leaguers, you don't protect Kwan.