Denard Span facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denard Span |
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Span with the Seattle Mariners in 2018
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: February 27, 1984 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 6, 2008, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2018, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .281 | ||
| Home runs | 71 | ||
| Runs batted in | 490 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Denard Span, whose full name is Keiunta Denard Span, was born on February 27, 1984. He is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Span played for several teams during his career. These included the Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, and Seattle Mariners. He batted and threw with his left hand. During his best years, he was known as one of the top "leadoff hitters" in baseball. This was because he was very good at getting on base, which is important for scoring runs.
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Early Life and High School Baseball
Denard Span grew up in Tampa, Florida. His mother, Wanda Wilson, raised him and his brother, Ray. She worked hard in different jobs, like a claims adjuster and running a day care, to support her family.
As a teenager, Span often went to baseball games at Tropicana Field. He attended Tampa Catholic High School. There, he played both football and baseball. In 2001, when he was a junior, his high school baseball team won a state championship.
In his senior year, Span was an amazing baseball player. He hit for a .490 average, meaning he got a hit nearly half the times he batted. He also had 17 doubles, three triples, 20 runs batted in (RBI), and stole 24 bases. He scored 33 runs in just 28 games. Span had planned to play college baseball at the University of Florida. However, he chose to go straight into professional baseball instead.
Starting His Professional Baseball Journey
The Minnesota Twins picked Denard Span in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. He was the 20th player chosen overall. He signed with the Twins on August 15, 2002, and received a $1.7 million bonus.
Span began his minor league career in 2003. He played for the Elizabethton Twins, a rookie-level team. He then moved up through different minor league teams over the next few years. He played for the Quad Cities River Bandits, Fort Myers Miracle, and New Britain Rock Cats. By 2007, he was playing for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He showed good skills, hitting well and stealing bases.
Playing for the Minnesota Twins
In 2008, Span was trying to earn a spot as the Twins' starting center fielder. He didn't get the spot at first and started the season in Triple-A. But after a teammate got injured, Span was called up to the Major Leagues on April 6, 2008. He made his MLB debut against the Kansas City Royals.
Span played well in 2008, hitting for a .294 average. He also hit six home runs and had 47 RBI in 93 games. He was even chosen to play in the 2008 Summer Olympics but couldn't go because he was playing in the MLB.
In 2009, Span became a regular starter for the Twins. He played in left field, center field, and right field. He improved his hitting, with a .311 average, eight home runs, and 68 RBI. He also stole 23 bases. Span made history by getting the first regular season and first postseason hits at the new Yankee Stadium in 2009.
On March 13, 2010, Span signed a five-year contract extension with the Twins. This deal was worth $16.5 million. On April 2, he hit the first triple and the first home run in the Twins' new ballpark, Target Field, during an exhibition game.
On June 29, Span tied a Major League Baseball record. He hit three triples in one game against the Detroit Tigers. This was a rare achievement, as he was only the 29th player since 1900 to do it. He also had a single and five RBI in that game.
Overall, Span had a strong career with the Twins. He was known for his good hitting and defense.
Time with the Washington Nationals
On November 29, 2012, the Twins traded Span to the Washington Nationals. He became the Nationals' starting center fielder. This move allowed Bryce Harper, who was the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, to move to left field.
In 2013, Span had an impressive 29-game hitting streak. This means he got at least one hit in 29 games in a row! During this streak, his batting average went up from .258 to .281. For the whole season, he hit .279 and led all of Major League Baseball with 11 triples.
On September 5, 2014, Span got his 1,000th career hit. He finished the 2014 season with a .302 batting average. He also had a career-high 31 stolen bases. He led the National League with 184 hits, which was a new record for the Nationals team.
Span had some injuries in 2015. He had surgery on his groin area in December 2014 and again in March 2015. He missed some games but still played well when he was on the field. He hit .301 with five home runs in 61 games that season.
Playing for the San Francisco Giants
On January 7, 2016, Span signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. The deal was worth $31 million. On June 13, 2016, he made history at AT&T Park. He became the first Giants player to hit a "leadoff splash hit home run" into McCovey Cove. This means he hit a home run at the very start of the game that landed in the water beyond the ballpark. He played two seasons for the Giants, hitting .268.
Later Career: Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners
On December 20, 2017, the Giants traded Span to the Tampa Bay Rays. He played 43 games for the Rays in 2018. On Opening Day 2018, he hit a three-run triple, helping the Rays win.
On May 25, 2018, the Rays traded Span to the Seattle Mariners. He played 94 games for the Mariners, hitting .272 with seven home runs. After the 2018 season, the Mariners decided not to keep him, and he became a free agent.
On June 8, 2020, Denard Span announced that he had played his last game in the Major Leagues.
Career Statistics
Over 11 seasons, Denard Span played in 1,359 games. He had a career batting average of .281. He collected 1,498 hits, including 265 doubles and 72 triples. He also hit 71 home runs and had 490 runs batted in. Span stole 185 bases and had a strong on-base percentage of .347. He was also a good fielder, with a .991 fielding percentage playing in all three outfield positions.
Life After Baseball
After his playing career, Denard Span continued to be involved in baseball. On January 24, 2021, he was hired by the Tampa Bay Rays as a special assistant in baseball operations. This means he helps with decisions about the team's players and strategies. In February 2023, he also joined Bally Sports Sun as a baseball analyst for the Rays. This means he talks about games and players on TV.
Personal Life
Denard Span is a Christian. He is married to Anne Schleper. Anne is an accomplished ice hockey player who won a silver medal with the U.S. team at the 2014 Winter Olympics. They got married in January 2017 and had their first child, a son, in October 2017.
Span also started a non-profit organization called The Denard Span Foundation. This foundation helps families that are led by a single parent.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
