Denard Span is in his second year as a Minnesota Twins game-day broadcast analyst. “It’s all about progressing and getting better and learning,” Span told me before a recent broadcast in July.
Span was a 2002 Twins first round draft pick (20th overall) out of high school in Tampa, Fla. His debut came in 2008, and Span played four seasons with the parent club (2008-12) before he was traded to Washington in November 2012, where he became the Nationals’ regular centerfielder.
He also played with three other clubs (San Francisco, 2026-17; Tampa Bay, 2018; and Seattle, 2018) before retiring after 10 MLB seasons. Span was known as one of the game’s premier leadoff hitters — .347 on-base percentage, and .991 fielding percentage, playing at all three outfield positions.
“I’ve always been a more under-the-radar type of player, underrated in my opinion,” Span pointed out. “That means a lot to me when I hear anybody give me that type of respect. I think if you’d asked a lot of my teammates, I would like to think they appreciated what I was able to bring to a ball club.
“I wasn’t a superstar player, but the things that I did definitely helped them to be better, as being a glue-piece type of player for sure,” he added humbly but proudly.
Now Span works a limited number of games, as does retired Twins LaTroy Hawkins as the only Black analysts on Twins telecasts. His full-time job is being a husband and father of three young children, along with running a nonprofit in Tampa.
“They keep me busy with all their sports,” said Span of his children’s activities away from home. “They’re very active.”
“I also have a nonprofit that I started when I was here, and it has blossomed and grown, and that’s geared towards helping single mothers. We help them get into transportation — brand new vehicles.”
While in town, Span also took his kids on a clubhouse tour. “I think they enjoyed it a lot,” said the father.
“I didn’t get an opportunity to have kids when I was playing, and then have them come to the clubhouse and see me in uniform. This was a special moment for them and a special moment for me as well. I enjoyed it probably more than them,” he said smiling.
It’s no secret that MLB has a low number of American-born Black players. According to MLB.com, nearly 60 were on team rosters on Opening Day 2025, and another 18 more Blacks in the minors.
“I’ve seen a decline,” observed Span. “Hopefully [MLB] is seeing that this next wave of guys that have gotten drafted over the last couple of years will increase the numbers.”
The retired major leaguer-now broadcaster also noticed just how much analytics have played a part in teams’ roster decisions. “You’ve seen organizations analytically be driven more towards the power hitters. That, you know, is not what we as African Americans traditionally have brought to the game. It’s been more guys that can put the bat on the ball, go [from] first to third, steal bases, and just overall bring that athleticism to the game.
“I think slowly but surely we’re kind of recalibrating and going back in that direction,” said Span. “I’m fine with the analytics. I think there is a place for it. Anytime you can get information or have more information at your fingertips to help you make more of an informed decision.”
Span is continuing to work his ‘part-time’ gig as Twins broadcaster. “Now, to have the opportunity and see how time has gone, and now I’m in that space, yeah, I’m just grateful for every opportunity I get.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.