Each day when outfielder Denard Span comes to the ballpark he checks the lineup, not to see if he's in it -- he has started 30 of 32 games this year -- but rather where he'll be in the outfield.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said during spring training that he expected to move all four of his outfielders around this season. So far, the only one of them to play more than one outfield position is Span. He has played in 18 games in center (17 starts), 17 in left (nine starts) and five in right (four starts). "I didn't know I was this versatile," Span said. ""I guess they've brought it out in me."
Span came up through the Twins' system as a center fielder and played mostly right field in his rookie season last year, filling in for the injured Michael Cuddyer. This year, he's also added left field to his resume, and Gardenhire said he's thrilled with how Span plays all three positions.
For Span, the adjustment has been minimal.
"I only shag in batting practice the position that I'm starting at that day," he said. "On those days when I have to move to left and right, I didn't shag in left and right. I just have to let my instincts take over and trust my ability. I wouldn't say it has anything to do with the park. Maybe just the ball doing a little something that for the six, seven innings, I was used to it doing something else, and then I shifted over and now the ball is going to slice different ways."
