Found November 22, 2011 on
Fox Sports North:
Minnesota Twins center fielder Denard Span missed much of the 2011 season with a concussion, playing in just 70 games. The symptoms he experienced as a result were frustrating to deal with both physically and mentally during the season.But now that Span has had a few months away from the game, he said he's not feeling any symptoms from the concussion he suffered in early June."I've been feeling pretty good. I have no complaints over here," Span told FOX Sports North in a phone interview. "I'm doing some things here to keep it in check. I can honestly say that overall, I feel a lot better."With his concussion hopefully in the rearview mirror, the 27-year-old Span has taken up a new winter workout: yoga. He's even let fans know how his workouts are going by posting updates on his Twitter page."Obviously I had a lot of time during the season to think," Span told FOX Sports North in a phone interview. "Last year, I tried a little bit of Pilates. Believe it or not, I'm getting a little older. I think it's important for me to do these things in order to keep my body where it needs to be. I'm hoping that it helps my flexibility and have me feeling like how I felt when I was 21 or 22 years old as far as recovery and all those things."After playing in 145 games in 2009 and 153 games in 2010, Span suffered a concussion in a home plate collision in early June of the 2011 season. The injury kept him out for two months, and he later missed more time due to migraine symptoms. In 70 games, Span batted .264.328.359 but hit just 7-for-53 (.132) with 10 strikeouts in 14 games after returning from his concussion late in the year.Despite his struggles at the plate, the mere fact that Span was able to return to the field for the final week of the season was a big mental boost, he said. "To me that was very important, just getting out there and finishing the season off on the field," Span said. "With me, there's no question I know that if I'm healthy, I know what I'm capable of doing. It's just about me being healthy and feeling good all the time. Not some of the time, but all the time. I don't feel like I have to prove anything in that sense. I think the organization and the right people, they know what I can do when I'm healthy. I'm just concentrating on proving to people that I will be healthy when I show up."When Span went on the disabled list after his concussion, rookie Ben Revere filled his spot in center field. The fleet-footed Revere turned in a number of highlight reel catches in the outfield, but he struggled at the plate after a hot start, finishing the year batting just .267.310.309.Span and Revere will likely be two of the Twins' three starting outfielders. The remaining outfield spot remains a question mark. Outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel are both free agents, and there's a chance both could be gone prior to the 2012 season."You never know. I think if they don't get what they're looking for maybe in the free agent market, then I could see them possibly coming back," Span said of Cuddyer and Kubel. "But if they get what they feel like they're worth or even a little bit more than that, I think they're going to do what free agents are supposed to do. I think if (they leave), we're going to miss them in the clubhouse and the locker room. Both of those guys were drafted by the Twins. They know the Twins way. They know what the Twins are all about."Regardless of whether Cuddyer and Kubel are back, the Twins are counting Span and several other players to show up to spring training with clean bills of health. Last season, seven of Minnesota's nine opening day position players including Span landed on the disabled list. Injuries were a big reason why Minnesota lost 99 games and finished last in the American League Central.But if the Twins can get back to full health, Span believes they can once again compete for a division title something that was as far out of reach last year as it had been in recent memory."It's been a long time since we had a year like we had last year," Span said. "I think if we're healthy, there's no question that all of us are competitors. We've all won and we all know what winning feels like. I think everybody, from the coaching staff to everybody, all the players, nobody liked how last season went."
Original Story:
http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/11/22/1...
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