Q&A with ex-Twins OF Denard Span on retirement, fatherhood, and more
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Former Twins outfielder Denard Span is expected to retire. He’s enjoying life in the Tampa-area, married to former Gophers hockey player Anne Schleper. They have two young boys together.
Span played five great seasons for the Twins after being their first round pick in 2002. He was traded after the 2012 season to Washington for pitcher Alex Meyer.
***Click the video box on this page to watch our Q&A with Span, via Zoom***
The 36-year-old hasn’t played in the majors since 2018 with the Rays and Mariners. Over 501 combined plate appearances, he hit .261/.341/.419 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI. The Mariners did not pick up his 2019 option, then in free agency he turned down at least one major league offer.
After not playing in 2019, Span held a showcase for 10-teams last winter, and was offered two minor league deals. Span said he knew he wasn’t getting a major league offer after sitting out a year. But neither MiLB deal did much for him.
If this is officially it for Span, he would wrap up an 11-year major league career during which he played for five different teams: the Twins, the Nationals, Giants, Rays and Mariners. He racked 1,498 hits, scored 773 runs, and stole 185 bases.
