ARLINGTON, Texas – The bond between Adley Rutschman and Steven Kwan grows stronger with each passing day.
Their journey began in the Oregon State baseball locker room, where their lockers were side by side. Kwan’s best friend at Oregon State had attended the same high school as Rutschman, creating an immediate connection. Their shared dedication to the sport and a love for ironic humor sealed their friendship.
“I guess it was destiny,” Kwan reflects. “We were going to become close.”
This week, that destiny brought them to Globe Life Field. On Tuesday night, Kwan will lead off for the American League All-Stars, one of the best lineups in the world. Rutschman will be the starting catcher and bat eighth, part of a lineup featuring Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
By Friday, Kwan and Rutschman will return to their roles with the Cleveland Guardians and Baltimore Orioles, who lead their respective divisions and could face off in October. But this week is about enjoying their reunion, playing the game they love, and celebrating their achievements in a demanding sport.
“He’s a hard worker, does things the right way, and is the nicest dude,” Rutschman says of Kwan. “Those are the kind of people you want around. We’ve been fast friends ever since.”
Their connection has endured through different stages of their careers and lives. Kwan is a great listener who offers good advice and understands that different people need different things at different times. “He does a really good job reading people and giving what’s needed,” Rutschman adds.
A Shared Journey
Kwan, 26, was a year ahead of Rutschman at Oregon State. He first met Rutschman when he joined the Corvallis Knights, a wood-bat summer team, shortly after high school. Kwan’s friend, catcher Zak Taylor, had attended Rutschman’s high school.
Kwan felt an immediate connection with the new arrival. “We didn’t take things too seriously. We were serious about becoming good baseball players and having a good time—playing games, talking about random things,” Kwan recalls. “We were on a similar wavelength.”
They both excelled at improving their baseball skills. Oregon State won the 2018 College World Series, with Kwan being drafted in the fifth round by Cleveland. Rutschman, who batted .408 with a .505 on-base percentage, was drafted No. 1 overall in 2019.
Both debuted early in the 2022 season. Rutschman made an immediate impact, posting an .806 OPS and finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. Kwan slashed his way to a .282 average and .356 OBP in his first two seasons. This year, Kwan leads the majors with a .352 average.
“It’s the willingness to shorten the swing down with two strikes,” Kwan explains. “I don’t hit a lot of home runs, so I focus on getting on base any way possible, which gives me more chances to get balls in play and get lucky.”
Kwan’s winter work on adding power has paid off, with him hitting more this season while maintaining a low strikeout rate. His role model is Jose Ramirez, a contact hitter with power, and Kwan aspires to follow in his footsteps.
Rutschman’s Growth
Rutschman’s game is more physical, but his approach is similar. Last season, he hit 20 homers with a .374 OBP. This season, he’s batting .300 with an .830 OPS through the first 81 games. Though he hit a rough patch before the break, his overall performance earned him a second consecutive All-Star start.
“He just continues to want to get better,” says Rutschman. “He could easily be satisfied with where he is, but he keeps working and looking for new ways to improve.”
A Reunion at the All-Star Game
Rutschman and Kwan shared a moment on the bus to All-Star Monday, reminiscing about their days in Corvallis. They usually grab breakfast together when visiting each other’s cities. This week, they added a midsummer reunion to their tradition. Given their promising careers, this may not be the last All-Star Game they share.
