Denard married the former Anne Schleper in January 2017…she was a member of the 2014 U.S. Olympic hockey team and three-time World Champion…the couple welcomed their first child, Denard James, this offseason... The Tampa native grew up attending games at Tropicana Field and was a fan of Rocco Baldelli… he has vivid memories of watching Ken Griffey Jr. play for the visiting Mariners…suiting up for his hometown club is a "dream come true" and something he always imagined... Aided Tampa Catholic in winning a state championship in 2001…he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame on Feb 10, 2010... Denard was raised by his mother, Wanda, in a single-parent home…he established the Denard Span Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Tampa Bay focused on supporting single-parent families….however, his work with these families dates back to his time in Minnesota…he also puts on an annual holiday event in Tampa that recognizes a group of single mothers and provides all of the gifts on their children's wish lists... He has remained heavily involved with House of God, his lifelong Pentecostal church located in Tampa…in the offseason, he serves as an advisor to his former youth group.
2017
Appeared in 129 games and made 116 starts, all in center field…led the Giants with 73 runs despite a stint on the 10-day DL with a sternocla vicular joint sprain…hit a career-high 12 HR, just the second time in 10 major league seasons he reached double-digit homers... Was one of three NL outfielders with double-digit homers and steals in 2016 and 2017, joining MIL Ryan Braun and COL Charlie Blackmon...Hit .284/.339/.465 (111-for-391) with 12 HR vs. RHP, compared to .226/.293/.283 (24-for-106) vs. LHP…hasn't homered off a lefty since May 29, 2016 at COL, off Chris Rusin... Min. 75 AB, led the Giants with a .345 avg. (30- for-87) with RISP, up from .248 in 2016... Hit .374 (40-for-107) in June, leading the NL in hits for the month…they were the most by a Giant in a calendar month since Marco Scutaro (42) in May 2013... Hit leadoff homers on May 12 vs. CIN, June 30 at PIT and Aug 19 vs. PHI (inside-the-park)…has 14 leadoff home runs in his career... On June 30 at PIT, homered off Gerrit Cole to begin the game and went on to finish with 4 hits and a career-high-tying 4 runs…was the first Giant to lead off a game with a homer and finish with at least 4 hits and 4 runs since Bobby Bonds on June 6, 1973 at PIT... On Aug 19 vs. PHI, led off the game with an inside-the-park home run…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, was the first player to do that since Johnny Rucker did it for the New York Giants on June 20, 1945…it marked his first career inside-the-park home run and the 11th all-time at AT&T Park.
2016
Finished the season, batting .266 (152-for-572) with 39 extra-base hits and 53 RBI in 143 games in his first season with the Giants. Became the first Giant since Barry Bonds to drive in five runs on Opening Day (Bonds in 2002) and the first with five in his Giants debut since the RBI became an official stat in 1920 (Elias). Hit a career-high 11 home runs (previous high was eight homers in 2009). Hit .289 (112-for-388) against right-handed pitchers, compared to a .217 clip (40-for-184) against lefties. Struggled with runners in scoring position, hitting just .248 (33-for-133). Missed six games from July 1-6 because of neck discomfort in the trapezius area. Slugged a go-ahead home run in the 10th inning on Aug. 4 to give the Giants' a 3-2 win...marked his first extra-inning homer in the Majors. Went 16-for-his-last-45 (.356) to the end the season after recording just two hits in his previous 41 at-bats (.049).
2015
Experienced leadoff hitter and elite defender had his third season in Washington cut short due to hip, back, and core muscle injuries...endured three separate stints on the disabled list and appeared in a career-low 61 games... From June 10-July 13, hit .351 (26-for-74) with four doubles, five RBI, 13 walks, eight stolen bases and 14 runs in 19 games....Was 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts...of MLB players with at least 10 stolen base attempts, only Span and the Giants' Matt Duffy (12-for-12) were perfect....Matched a career-high with five hits on April 28 at Atlanta.
2014
In second NL season, Gold Glove-caliber defender settled in offensively and sparked the Nationals potent lineup from the top spot...Hit .302 with a .355 on-base%, posted career-high 52 extra-base hits and swiped a career-best 31 bases in second season with Washington...At .302, became the sixth qualified National to hit .300 (C.Guzman, M.Morse, J.Werth, D.Young, R.Zimmerman)...Ranked among NL leaders in multi-hit games (1st, 58), hits (T1st, 184), doubles (T4th, 39), triples (T7th, 8), stolen bases (5th, 31) and runs (T5th, 94)...184 hits set Nationals single-season mark...Set that mark in the final game of the 2014 season when he laced a third-inning double...Became the second National to achieve 30-double, 30-stolen base status (A.Soriano, 2006)...Matched a career high, and a team high in 2014 with a team record with five hits, May 20 vs. Cincinnati...Clubbed his seventh career lead-off home run, May 21 vs. Cincinnati (A. Simon)...Walked four times in a game, tying a Nationals record (2005-present) for the second time in his career, July 27 at Cincinnati...Posted a 36-game on-base streak, June 28-Aug. 10...It was the second longest streak in MLB in 2014 and second longest in Nationals history (R. Zimmerman, 43 games, 2009)...Matched Wilson Ramos with a team-best 14-game hitting streak, July 28-Aug. 10... Recorded his second career multi-home run game, Sept. 1 at Los Angeles Dodgers (2-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 R).
2013
Closed strong (hit .302 after the All-Star break), led MLB in triples and was Gold Glove finalist in first National League season...posted MLB's longest hit streak of the '13 campaign, a career-high 29-gamer (.371, 46-for-124) from Aug. 17-Sept. 18...the 29-game run raised batting average from .258 to .282 and included a 4-hit game (Aug. 25 at KCR), 5 three-hit games, a trio of 2-hit efforts and "just" a single hit 20 times...streak was also the 2nd-longest in the 9-year history of the Nationals (Ryan Zimmerman, 30-gamer, 2009)...was stellar defensively all season...did not make an error in 153 games/384 total chances in center field...earned Wilson Sporting Goods Defensive Player of the Year award for the Nationals...in Washington's 6-5 home win on August 14 against the Giants, with the potential tying and winning runs on base, made spectacular game-ending, snow-cone catch to deny Hunter Pence of a go-ahead double...reached the 20-stolen base plateau for first time since '10...9 of those 20 stolen bases came in September...swiped 100th career base on July 12 at MIA...team-leading 26 infield hits tied for 3rd in the NL...hit .305 at Nationals Park...batted .333 (25-for-75) in interleague play.
2012
In final season with the Twins, batted .283 and posted a team-best 38 doubles en route to a .342 on-base percentage...defensively, led all qualified
big league center fielders in both range factor per 9.0 innings (2.89) and putouts per 9.0 innings (2.84)...46 extra-base hits were 9 more than
previous career high (37 in 2010)...11-game hit streak from July 22-August 2 was longest of career...swing-and-miss percentage of 8.2 was best
of young career...legged out 8 bunt hits.
2011
Made Twins Opening Day roster for third straight season...began season as the club's leadoff hitter and center fielder, April 1 at Toronto...Hit safely in 18 of his first 24 games, April 1-29, including his first home run of the season, April 3 at Toronto...had first four-hit game of season, April 13 vs. Kansas City...Hit safely in season-high nine straight games, April 19-29...Reached base safely in 16 of 17 games, May 3-21...he drew a walk in seven consecutive games, May 7-14...Hit his fourth career leadoff home run, May 23 vs. Seattle off Jason Vargas...his first since June 25, 2010 at New York (NL)...Recorded back-to-back three-hit games, May 23 and 24 vs. Seattle...Batted in the third spot in the order for the first time in his career and went 0-for-4, June 6 at Cleveland...it was his first time in the starting lineup not in the leadoff spot since 2008...Placed on the 7-day disabled list June 9, after he suffered a concussion colliding into catcher Bryan Pena, June 3 at Kansas City...transferred to the 15-day disabled list, June 23...At the time of the collision (through games of June 3), he was batting .300 (68-for-227) - second on the team and had 19 multi-hit games in 55 games played...Played 10 games with Triple-A Rochester on rehab assignment...reinstated from disabled list, August 2...Played in nine games with the Twins upon his return...placed back on the 15-day disabled list with migraine symptoms, August 18...reinstated, September 21 and played in five games, batting .278 (5-for-18) with two doubles, two triples and four runs scored to finish the season.
2010
Started the season as the Twins center fielder and leadoff hitter...was the first Twins batter to
make a plate appearance at Target Field and first batter to draw a walk...four batters later he
scored the first run in Target Field history, on a Michael Cuddyer single...reached base three
times in the game and scored twice...tied a career-high with two stolen bases in the game...Set a career-high with four walks, April 14 vs. Boston...was one of two Twins to draw four walks
in a game in 2010 (Thome - July 21 vs. Cleveland)...Had season-high nine-game hit-streak, going .324 (12-for-37), April 15-24...Committed just one error in his first 70 games (200 total chances), April 5-June 23...Batted .353 (42-for-119) with six doubles, two triples, one home run, 10 rbi, 21 runs scored, nine walks and seven stolen bases in May (28
games)...his 21 runs scored were tied for ninth in the American League...Hit his third career leadoff home run, June 25 at New York (NL)...Tied a club and modern day record with three triples, June 29 vs. Detroit...his day included four hits, a walk and a season-high five rbi...
became the first player in the Majors to have three triples in a game since 2002 (Rafael Furcal)...Was successful in 18 consecutive stolen base attempts, April 9-July 24...Stole his 20th base, giving him back-to-back 20-steal seasons, August 31 vs. Detroit...first Twin with consecutive 20-steal seasons since
Torii Hunter in 2004 (21) and 2005 (23)...Recorded his 10th triple of the season, tying his career-high (2009), September 20 vs. Cleveland...Recorded four rbi, September 14 at Chicago (AL), marking his seventh career game with four-or-more rbi...Batted .378 (14-for-37) with six multi-hit games in an eight game span, September 14-25...Batted .314 (22-for-70) vs. Detroit during the season, with two four-hit games, giving him a .372 career batting average vs. the Tigers...Batted .302 at home and .228 on the road...hit safely in 56 of 77 home games...Collected 49 multi-hit games...six three-hit games, and three four-hit games...His 86.7% stolen base percentage tied Matt Lawton (1999) for the fourth-highest for a single season in Twins history (minimum of 15
stolen bases)...Led club in at-bats, was tied for second in games and walk, and third in hits and runs.
2009
Made the Twins Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, making the start in left field and leading off on Opening Day, April 6 vs. Seattle...hit his first home run of the season,
April 8 vs. Seattle...collected seven multi-hit games in a 15-game span, April 7-24...finished April batting .321 (26-for-81) with a .391 on-base percentage...first four-hit game of the season, May 4 at Detroit...tied career-high with three walks, May 15 at New York (AL)...second four-hit game, May 27 vs. Boston...first career five-hit game, July 3 vs. Detroit...collected nine hits in 11 at-bats, August 7-8 at Detroit (four-hit game on the 7th and five-hit game on the 8th)...hit safely in 14 of 15 games, batting .450 (27-for-60) with three doubles, four triples, eight RBI, nine runs scored and 10 multi-hit games, August 18-September 2...played in 145 games for the Twins, 84 in center field, 74 in left field and 39 in right field, committing just five errors overall...his 10 triples were the most for a Twins player since Cristian Guzman had 14 in 2003...his .311 batting average and .393 OBP as a leadoff hitter ranked fourth in the league while his 68 RBI ranked third among AL leadoff hitters...finished tied for first in the American League in triples, ninth in batting average, tied for 10th in multi-hit games (54), 14th in hits and runs scored...his 12 sacrifice hits were tied for fourth in the AL...finished third in the Majors in infield hits with 40...his .392 on-base percentage was the second-highest in club history for a leadoff hitter (minimum 550 at-bats)...hit .400 (6-for-15) with a double and an RBI in the AL Division Series vs. the Yankees...was given the
Mike Augustin Award for best relations with the media, by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA.
2008
Began season at Triple-A Rochester and played in two games before being recalled April 5 when Michael Cuddyer dislocated a finger...made Major League debut, starting in right field, April 6 vs. Kansas City...singled off Javier Vazquez for first Major League hit, April 7 at Chicago (AL)...optioned to Triple-A Rochester April 24, where he hit .362 (41-for-113) with 23 runs scored, three home runs, 11 rbi and seven stolen bases in 29 games, including homers in three straight games from May 12-14...disabled list with a fractured finger on his left hand, May 21-June 12...was hitting .340 at the time of his recall on June 30...hit safely in his first six games, June 30-July 7...first career four-hit game, July 10 at Detroit...moved from ninth in the lineup to the leadoff spot on July 22...hit first Major League home run off Mark Buehrle, July 28 at Chicago (AL)...scored a career-high three runs, July 31 vs. Chicago (AL)...went 3-for-5 with a home run and first career four rbi game, August 22 at Los Angeles (AL)...hit safely in 13 of 16 games, August 27-September 13, going 22-for-70 (.314) with eight multi-hit games...recorded first career two-homer game and second career four rbi game, September 13 at Baltimore (Game 1)...went a combined 4-for-9 with four runs scored and five rbi in double-header, September 13 at Baltimore...went 3-for-4 on September 25 vs. Chicago (AL), including a game-tying rbi-triple in the eighth, forcing extra-innings and an eventual 7-6 Twins win...his .296 batting average tied him with Kirby Puckett for sixth on the Twins' All-Time list for rookies, while his .386 on-base percentage ranked second behind Corey Koskie's .387 (minimum 300 at-bats)...additionally, he was tied for 12th in runs scored and 13th in walks on that same list...his .346 batting average with runners in scoring position placed him 10th in the American League behind teammate Justin Morneau...most games played by a Twins rookie (92) since Dustin Mohr (113 in 2002)...named to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team...winner of the Bill Boni Award, given to the Twins Most Outstanding Rookie.
2007
Spent entire season at Triple-A Rochester and appeared in a 139 games (all as the Red Wings center fielder)...had a season-high four hits and matched a season-high with four rbi, August 27 vs. Pawtucket...hit .324 (33-for-102) with 16 runs and 13 rbi in August...hit safely in 23 of his final 32 games...led all of minor league baseball with 21 sacrifice hits.
2006
Hit .520 (13-for-25) in his first six games, including a 4-for-5 effort on April 10 vs. Portland...hit .338 (27-for-80) in 20 games in April
...eight-game hit-streak from June 16-22, going 14-for-35 (.400) with six rbi...went 4-for-5 on June 17 vs. Akron...played in Double-A All-Star
Game, July 12 at Altoona...went 4-for-5 on July 15 vs. New Hampshire with two rbi and two doubles...hit safely in 19 of 20 games from August
8-27, including a nine-game hit-streak from August 8-17...season-high 10-game hit-streak from August 19-27, batting .421 (16-for-38) with
four rbi and three stolen bases...reached base safely in each of his last six games, going 10-for-25 (.400) with a home run and two doubles...
had three-hit game on September 3 vs. Harrisburg...hit .333 (88-for-266) in 65 home games...collected 44 multi-hit games...finished in the top
10 in Twins organization in games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits and stolen bases...led Twins minor league system in plate appearances (536), hits (153) and runs scored (80).
2005
Hit safely in 6 of 7 games, going 12-28 (.429), April 8-13 . . . season-high 5 hits, April 28 at Dunedin . . . disabled with strained left hamstring, April 30-May 7 . . . sesaon-high 13-game hit-streak, going 20-49 (.408), May 12-26 . . . was 12-28 (.429) in 8 games, May 30-June 11 . . . played in Florida State League All-Star Game, June 18 at Clearwater. . . promoted to New Britain, June 23 . . . hit safely in 6 of 7 games, going 10-28 (.357), June 24-July 1 . . . had 9- game hit-streak, going 16-41 (.390), July 17-26 . . . hit safely in 6 of 7 games, going 10-29 (.345), August 7-12 . . . tied season-high 3 rbi, August 9 vs. Portland . . . was second among Twins' minor leaguers in batting and stolen bases . . . rated seventh Best Prospect in Florida State League and 14th Best Prospect in Eastern League by Baseball America . . . played for Grand Canyon in Arizona Fall League.
2004
Hit safely in 6 consecutive games, going 9-23 (.391), April 12-17 . . . season-high 7-game hit-streak, going 13-26 (.500), May 4-11 . . . season-high 4 hits and 3 rbi, May 8 vs. Ft. Wayne . . . disabled with broken right hamate bone, May 19-July 29 . . . selected to Midwest League All-Star team but did not play . . . transferred to GCL Twins, July 29 . . . promoted to Quad City, August 4 . . . hit safely in 6 of 7 games, going 9-27 (.333), August 5-12 . . . was 6-20 (.300) in 5 games, September 2-6 . . . was third on club in stolen bases.
2003
Hit safely in 10 of 11 games, going 18-53 (.340), June 17-28 . . . season-high 3 rbi, June 27 at Johnson County . . . season-high 9-game hit-streak, going 12-31 (.387), July 30-August 8 . . . hit safely in 8 consecutive games, going 13-31 (.419), August 17-25 . . . tied season-high 4 hits, August 22 at Danville . . . tied for second on club in stolen bases . . . rated ninth Best Prospect in Appalachian League by
Baseball America.
