Miracle outfielder fulfills speed need

Span's running ability makes him a top Twins prospect

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Denard Span: remember the name.

Fans of the Minnesota Twins and their Class A minor league affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle, soon will be seeing Span's fleet feet.

At 7:05 tonight at the Lee County Sports Complex, Span will start at center field. He also will hit leadoff as the Miracle hold their Florida State League home opener against the Sarasota Reds.

"Fast doesn't even describe it," said former Miracle manager Jose Marzan, now the Twins Latin American Coordinator. "I played with Deion (Sanders) in college. He's that fast. That's who he reminds me of.

"His feet don't hit the ground. Well, maybe they do a little bit. It's just beautiful to see a guy run that fast. It's beautiful."

Twins management also has compared Span to Florida Marlins centerfielder Juan Pierre and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kenny Lofton.

"I think my game resembles theirs a lot," Span said. "They just want me to get on base."

Last Thursday, Span filled in for Twins centerfielder Torii Hunter at the end of a big-league spring training game.

After getting hit by a pitch, Span sprinted from first to third on a single. He then scored, tagging up on a fly ball hit by Michael Cuddyer during a 4-2 win by the Twins against the Boston Red Sox.

"I got to live my dream for a little bit," Span said after the big-league spring game. "Now, it's back to reality. Now, it's time to wake up."

During his brief outing with the big-league team, Span caught the attention of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

"I've watched him run," Gardenhire said. "He can fly. We like guys who can slap the ball and run like the wind.

"He can really do that."

The Twins selected Span as the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2002 June Draft out of Tampa Catholic High.

Since then, Span has made a slow, but sure rise through the minor leagues, hitting .273 with 15 stolen bases last year in Quad Cities, a low-Class A team.

"I'm not sure how far away I am," Span said of reaching the big leagues. "But I can tell you how far I have come. I'm starting to realize what my purpose is in this organization.

"I want people to see me for more than just my speed. I think they're trying to groom me as a future leadoff hitter."

Miracle pitcher Scott Tyler teamed with Span last season in Quad Cities.

"Whenever he puts the ball in play, he has the chance to beat the throw for a single," Tyler said. "He gets on base. He can motor, that's for sure.

"He's great in the outfield, too. He's got closing speed. He can track them down."

Twins minor league hitting instructor Jim Dwyer has been working with Span on getting his hips involved with his swing and having him focus on hitting the ball down to the ground rather than up in the air.

As Tyler said, any time Span hits a ball on the ground, he has a good chance to reach first base.

"He just has to learn to use his legs," Dwyer said. "He's got real quick hands.

"He can run them down in the outfield as good as anybody I've ever seen."