At Target Field’s Majestic Twins Clubhouse Store, you’ll find the authentic jerseys of Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Trevor Plouffe and current Rochester Redwings Chris Parmelee and Tsuyoshi Nishioka on sale for $325. Noticeably absent is Denard Span. When I pointed this to an employee he shrugged and seemed as puzzled as I was.

So far this season, Span has arguably been the team’s best player, hitting .292 with a .358 on-base-percentage and 4 steals. He covers a lot of ground in centerfield and plays with a fire and passion that some of his more heralded teammates lack.

Because of that and his relatively modest contract, he’s likely to be traded by season’s end. With Mauer’s contract and Morneau’s health issues, Span is one of the few Twins with any value on the open market.

The 28-year-old took some time out to talk with me following batting practice during the last homestand.

DZ: I’ve got some hard-hitting stuff right away; have you been watching the NBA playoffs and what do you think so far?

SPAN: I’ve been paying attention a little bit, not as close in the first round. The first round gets kinda boring; you kinda know who is going to win for the most part. The second round is about to start heating up. Boston looks tough; Miami is the team I am rooting for. Boston is going to give Miami a little problem, but I am hoping it’s Miami and OKC.

DZ: Have you met Lebron or D-Wade at all?

SPAN: No, I have never met those guys.

DZ: Onto the Twins stuff. Obviously the team isn’t playing the way you guys would like to – I know you’re a guy who hates losing – what’s it been like for you so far?

SPAN: It’s been tough, man. We went through this last year, but the majority of the time I felt disassociated with the team because I was hurt and dealing with my own problems at the time…it’s still early in the season, I am still confident we can turn it around. So far it’s been tough, but we are a better team than we’ve showed.

DZ: It’s your 5th year now, you are a veteran, have you stepped up to be a leader and taken on that role now?

SPAN: Yeah, somewhat I have. By nature I am not a vocal person. I’ve never been the type of person that will just talk just to be talking. Whenever I say something, I want it to be profound, I want people to listen because I want people to know that when I do say something, it’s meaningful. I try to open my mouth when it’s the right time.

DZ: Last year you had the concussion, missed a lot of time. Obviously, that’s frustrating, what did you learn that? What do you know now that you didn’t know a year ago?

SPAN: I learned how lucky and blessed I am just to be in the position I am playing this great game. I believe I was a humble person before the injury, but it definitely humbled me more and made me appreciate the smaller things of waking up every day, feeling good like I feel now. It made me just appreciate being healthy and doing what I love to do.

DZ: Your first three or four years here it was pretty stable in the outfield – Cuddyer, Delmon – this year it’s a whole different ball game. What’s that been like for you?

SPAN: It’s been a little different trying to get used to the different guys next to me, but it’s nothing I can control. They are great guys that have been put out there, so I am just trying to do the best I can to help those guys out and help the team out, really.

DZ: Every year you do a (charity) bowling tournament, what’s your bowling average?

SPAN: Actually, I don’t have one because I don’t even bowl at my event.

DZ: You don’t bowl at your event?!

SPAN: I am being Mr. PR guy. I am walking around, shaking hands and thanking everybody for coming out and showing their support.

DZ: I noticed have a Delmon Young bat there (used for batting practice), what’s the story behind that?

SPAN: I weigh probably about 205, Delmon probably anywhere from 210 to 250 (laughs), so he’s a little bit bigger and stronger than I am and so he swings a bigger bat than I do. So, for BP and pregame, I like to swing his bat so when game time comes and I pick up my bat, my bat feels light.

See more of David Zingler’s interviews with Twins players:

May 1: Jared Burton
April 28: Alex Burnett
April 21: Chris Parmelee
April 17: Sean Burroughs
April 13: Jeff Gray

Will Recall Ben Revere From Triple-A Rochester 

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced after tonight’s game that they have placed catcher Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list with a right calf strain.

To replace Doumit on the 25-man roster, the Twins will recall outfielder Ben Revere from Triple-A Rochester in time for tomorrow’s game vs. the Tigers in Detroit.  Revere started the season with the Twins, batting .278 (5-for-18) with one double in six games.  In 23 games with the Red Wings, he batted .330 (31-for-94) with one double and six rbi.

Another day, another loss for the Minnesota Twins. Ho hum…it’s always Groundhog Day for the Twins this year. This time they couldn’t score a run against an aging Derek Lowe who hadn’t pitched a complete game shutout since 2004. And he did it without striking anybody out, but with the help of four ground ball double plays.

It’s time for the Twins and their fans to come to this realization. As bad as this team seemed last year, they are worse this year. Cuddyer, Kubel, Young and Nathan are gone…and even though Mauer is in the line up every day, he’s been nothing more than a slap hitter, incapable of power numbers. Justin Morneau with his injury riddled career, may be on the verge of making his last stand as a baseball player. Denard Span, probably their most consistent every day player,  is the subject of daily trade rumors…and the only bright spot on the horizon,  rookie shortstop Brian Dozier,  already finds himself batting 5th for a major league team. Let’s remember that Dozier split last year between Ft Myers (Class A) and New Britain (AA).

Yes, it’s hard to be optimistic these days if you’re a Twins fan. The farm system is bare of any future stars (they’ve all been playing for the Twins the last two years). And it appears that despite big money rolling in because of the cash cow known as Target Field, the Twins are reluctant to spend any significant money in the free agent market.  They did go out and add Ryan Doumit and Josh Willingham this year, but in typical Twins fashion they are both second tier free agents…and don’t even cover the losses of Cuddy and Kubel.

And the pitching staff? Let’s not even go there.  The starters have the worst combined ERA in baseball. Yikes.

Look on the bright side. At least they play at a nice ballpark.

TWINS NOTES: ¬
• The Twins finished their nine-game homestand with a record of 3-6.
• The Twins were shutout for the fourth time this season, first time at Target Field in 2012…first time by the Indians since June 7, 2011 at Progressive Field.
• The Twins defense turned one more double plays today giving them 43 on the season…they entered today ranking second in the American League in double plays turned, behind Toronto’s 48.
• Minnesota grounded into four double plays today giving them 38 GIDP’s in 36 games this season…the four GIDP’s were their most since April 22, 2010 vs. Cleveland when they also had four.
• Jason Marquis fell to 0- 3 in his last three start, posting a 7.20 ERA…the three homers allowed by Marquis were his most in a start since allowing three, August 14, 2010 vs. Arizona…he entered today, having allowed a total of four homers this season and none in his previous two starts.
• The three home runs allowed by Marquis in the fifth inning were the most in one inning off Twins pitching since the Tigers hit three in the fourth inning, September 25, 2010 at Comerica Park (Don Kelly, Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila) off Carl Pavano.
• Brian Dozier celebrated his 25th birthday today, going 3-for-4 with a double…prior to this today he was 6-for-9 with one run scored on his birthday, in two minor league seasons.
• Dozier recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season and set a new career-high with three hits…he is batting .438 (7-for-16) with two doubles, one homer, one rbi and three runs scored in his last four games.
• Anthony Swarzak has posted a 2.63 ERA (13.2 ip, 4 er) as a reliever this season with opponents batting .167 (7-for-42) off him in that role.

Parmelee optioned To Triple-A Rochester

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced that they will reinstate first baseman Justin Morneau from the 15-day disabled list prior to tonight’s game vs. the Tigers in Detroit.  Morneau was placed on the disabled list May 7 (retroactive to May 1) with a sore left wrist.  In 20 games this season, he is batting .230 (17-for-74) with five doubles, four home runs and nine rbi.

To make room for Morneau on the 25-man roster, the Twins have optioned first baseman Chris Parmelee to Triple-A Rochester.  In 27 games with the Twins this season, Parmelee batted .179 (15-for-84) with five doubles, one triple and three rbi.

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic underwent successful surgery today to remove bone spurs in his right ankle. The surgery was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Pekovic missed eight games during the 2011-12 season due to the bones spurs.

Pekovic appeared in 47 games for the Wolves this past season, averaging 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. He was 2nd in the NBA in field goal percentage at .564 and 18th with 181 offensive rebounds. Pekovic set a career-high with 30 points at Houston on Feb. 17 and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds April 22 vs. Golden State. The 6-11 center finished 3rd in the 2011-12 Kia NBA Most Improved Player voting.