Denard Span, OF, Minnesota Twins
Background: Seems like yesterday I was watching Span work out at Coors Field as one of the top draft prospects in 2002. The Rockies were prepared to take him with the ninth pick overall. The sides couldn’t agree on a $2 million signing bonus. So the Rockies took Jeff Francis and Span ultimately dropped to 20th to the Twins. The miscalculation cost him nearly $1 million.
What’s up: There’s reason to believe he’s going to make that up — and then some. He might need the Wells Fargo truck to transport his checks if he keeps playing like he is now. Since his second recall from the minor leagues at the end of June, Span is hitting .320 with an on-base percentage over .400. He caught the attention of the baseball world last week when he turned Adrian Beltre’s flyball into an obit, leaping high above the left-field wall at Seattle’s Safeco Field and robbing a home run. Said Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras as he watched the replay on TV: “It seems like he’s on the highlights every night.”
What’s next: Span — pronounced Spawn — is occupying a renowned place. Even when Michael Cuddyer comes back from injury, the rookie is going to hit leadoff and play somewhere in the outfield everyday, manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Renck’s take: Forget the A’s for a second. The best example of baseball on a budget is Minnesota. The Twins’ track record for drafting, cultivating and trading for talent is stunning. A lot of teams trot out the idea they are better off not signing their stars to eat up too much payroll. Problem is, few, if any, can continue supplying quality replacements like the Twins. After trading ace Johan Santana and losing center fielder Torii Hunter to free agency, the Twins are poised to win the AL Central. Why? They have younger versions of the pair in Francisco Liriano and Span.
