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Kwan, a solid hitter, failed to qualify for MLB’s Japanese Samurai

Japanese-American outfielder Stephen Kwan of the Guardians, who was positive about joining the Japanese national baseball team “Samurai Japan”, revealed that he was not eligible to participate in Major League Baseball (MLB). US media “Nichibei” reported that he was “expelled from MLB”.

The 25-year-old Kwan has not missed 116 pitches since his debut last season, with excellent bat control. He made an astounding 15 walks in four games in his debut, the most in modern baseball since 1901. He also won a Gold Glove award in left field defense. He is a talent who came to the league third in the Rookie of the Year competition.

Kwan has a Chinese father and a Japanese mother, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Saito, from Yamagata to California after WWII. Mother was born in the United States. He expressed his disappointment by saying, “It seems that the selection criteria is whether you have a Japanese passport or whether your parents have a Japanese passport.”

“I know other teams have granted exceptions, so I’m hoping there’s some sort of solution, but so far there doesn’t seem to be a chance. I’m pretty disappointed.”