Speedy Span starting to show promise

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

JUPITER, FLA. -- Denard Span, making solid contact? That was unheard of when he first joined the Twins organization in 2003.

"The pitchers were knocking the bat out of his hands," said former Twins great Paul Molitor, who is working with Twins prospects this season as a guest coach.

Now, Span is lining pitches all over the Florida State League and is starting to show some of the promise that made him the Twins' first-round pick in the 2002 draft.

Span batted .271 for Rookie League Elizabethton in 2003, then .267 in 2004 for Class A Beloit, a season limited to 64 games because of a broken hamate bone near his right wrist.

He's batting .348 in 23 games this season for the Class A Fort Myers Miracle.

"He's made a great deal of progress," Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram said. "He can handle the bat now. He's beginning to understand what the pitchers are trying to do to him to get him out, and he's got to make some adjustments to that."

Span is considered one of the fastest players in the Twins organization and is a smooth center fielder. When he gets on base, pitchers worry about him. During a May 9 game against Palm Beach, Span had to dive back to first base four consecutive times to beat pickoff throws.

He's not likely to hit for a lot of power. In fact, he bunts at least one time during every trip into the cage during batting practice.

It's not a surprise that Span watches Florida center fielder Juan Pierre, a speedster like him, very closely.

"He's pretty quick," Span said. "I see myself being one of those type of players."