Denard Span
Encyclopedia
Keiunta Denard Span is an American
Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Minnesota Twins
. He was selected by the Twins with the 20th overall pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
from Tampa Catholic High School
. Span turned down just over $2 million from Colorado
in an offer for a predraft deal; he fell all the way to the 20th pick and cost himself around $800,000. He bats and throws left-handed
and is known as one of the premier lead-off hitters in the AL due to his exceptional on-base percentage.
. In 2005, he started with Fort Myers Miracle
, Twins Advanced A affiliate then was called up to the New Britain Rock Cats
, the Twins Double-A affiliate. He spent the season as a member of the Rock Cats, and with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
.
Span was competing with Carlos Gomez
for the starting center field job for the Twins, but Gomez was given the job. On April 6, Michael Cuddyer
was placed on the 15-day disabled list
and Span was called up and made his Major League debut against the Kansas City Royals
. Span played with the Twins for the rest of 2008 season, hitting .294/.387/.432 with 6 HR, 47 RBI, and 7 triples in 93 games. Span was chosen to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but because he was called up, he was forced to skip the Olympics.
. He also played center field and right field throughout the season. His stats showed some improvement from 2008, hitting .311/.392/.415 with 8 HR, 68 RBI, and 10 triples in 145 games. He also stole bases 23 times while getting caught stealing 10 times. Span earned the distinction of becoming the player to hit both the first regular season and post season hit at Yankee Stadium
in 2009.
that included an option for the 2015 season worth $9 million with a $500,000 buyout. This contract effectively bought out all of Span's arbitration years but did not go beyond his available free agency.
On March 31, he unintentionally hit his mother, who was sitting in the stands, with a foul ball. On April 2, 2010, Span collected the first hit (a triple) and the first home run in the Twins' new ballpark Target Field
in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals
.
On June 29, Denard Span tied the modern-day Major League Baseball record by hitting three triples
in one game when he did so against the Detroit Tigers
in an 11-4 victory. He became the 29th player since 1900 to accomplish this feat and the second Minnesota Twin (after Ken Landreaux
in 1980). On his spectacular night, which also included a single and five runs batted in
, Span commented, “Today was a special day for me.” The last time a player hit three triples in one game was by Rafael Furcal
of the Atlanta Braves
on April 21, 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He was selected by the Twins with the 20th overall pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
from Tampa Catholic High School
Tampa Catholic High School
Tampa Catholic High School is a Diocesan, Catholic, coeducational high school located in Tampa, Florida, USA, founded in 1962. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. Its motto is "Veritas and Caritas," which means: "Truth and Charity."...
. Span turned down just over $2 million from Colorado
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in an offer for a predraft deal; he fell all the way to the 20th pick and cost himself around $800,000. He bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and is known as one of the premier lead-off hitters in the AL due to his exceptional on-base percentage.
Professional career
After being drafted by the Twins in 2002, Span signed with the Twins on August 15, 2002. He started his minor league at Elizabethon, Twins rookie affiliate in 2003. In 2004, he played for the Twins of the Gulf Coast League, only appearing in 5 games and for the Swing of the Quad Cities, now called the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest LeagueMidwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. In 2005, he started with Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
, Twins Advanced A affiliate then was called up to the New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
, the Twins Double-A affiliate. He spent the season as a member of the Rock Cats, and with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
.
2008
Throughout spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
Span was competing with Carlos Gomez
Carlos Gómez
Carlos Argelis Gómez Pena, nicknamed "Go-Go", is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Minor leagues:...
for the starting center field job for the Twins, but Gomez was given the job. On April 6, Michael Cuddyer
Michael Cuddyer
Michael Brent Cuddyer is a Major League Baseball right fielder who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed, and wore number 5 for Minnesota Twins.-High school:...
was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
and Span was called up and made his Major League debut against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Span played with the Twins for the rest of 2008 season, hitting .294/.387/.432 with 6 HR, 47 RBI, and 7 triples in 93 games. Span was chosen to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but because he was called up, he was forced to skip the Olympics.
2009
Span, unlike 2008, got the nod to start as a left fielderLeft fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. He also played center field and right field throughout the season. His stats showed some improvement from 2008, hitting .311/.392/.415 with 8 HR, 68 RBI, and 10 triples in 145 games. He also stole bases 23 times while getting caught stealing 10 times. Span earned the distinction of becoming the player to hit both the first regular season and post season hit at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
in 2009.
2010
On March 13, Span made a public a five-year deal worth $16.5 million with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
that included an option for the 2015 season worth $9 million with a $500,000 buyout. This contract effectively bought out all of Span's arbitration years but did not go beyond his available free agency.
On March 31, he unintentionally hit his mother, who was sitting in the stands, with a foul ball. On April 2, 2010, Span collected the first hit (a triple) and the first home run in the Twins' new ballpark Target Field
Target Field
Target Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball...
in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
On June 29, Denard Span tied the modern-day Major League Baseball record by hitting three triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in one game when he did so against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in an 11-4 victory. He became the 29th player since 1900 to accomplish this feat and the second Minnesota Twin (after Ken Landreaux
Ken Landreaux
Kenneth Francis Landreaux is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball.After graduating from Dominguez High School in Compton, California, Landreaux carried on his education at Arizona State University before joining the California Angels in...
in 1980). On his spectacular night, which also included a single and five runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, Span commented, “Today was a special day for me.” The last time a player hit three triples in one game was by Rafael Furcal
Rafael Furcal
Rafael Antonio Furcal , is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent.-Early career:...
of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on April 21, 2002.