MINNEAPOLIS --- Feeling a need for speed, the Minnesota Twins found someone they think would fit the bill quite nicely.

With their first-round pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected outfielder Denard Span of Tampa, Florida.

The 20th overall pick, the 18-year-old Span is a 6-foot-1, 175-pounder who just graduated from Tampa Catholic High School. He hit .490 with no home runs, 17 doubles, three triples, 20 RBIs, 24 stolen bases and 33 runs scored in 28 games with Tampa Catholic in 2002.

Span, who bats and throws left-handed, led his team to Florida's Class 3A State Championship in 2001 and was a pre-season High School All-America selection by Baseball America.

Denard Span School: Tampa Catholic HS Position: CF   B/T: L/L H: 6-1   W: 175 Born: 02/27/1984   Class: HS Scouting report: Great, live, athletic body with bounce and glide to actions. Built similar to Reggie Sanders. Chokes up. Great acceleration. Compact stroke. Drives ball into gaps. Quick first step in outfield. Can go gap to gap. Also plays football. Potential leadoff hitter. Exciting player. Scouting video: 56k | 300k

The teenager said the experience of being picked in the first round was pretty emotional.

"When I first heard, I broke out in tears," Span said from his home in Tampa. "I was happy because I worked so hard."

Baseball America projected Span as the 20th best prospect in this year's draft and rated him as the second fastest high school base runner and second best high school defensive player.

According to scouting reports, Span has an athletic body and is built like veteran outfielder Reggie Sanders. He chokes up with the bat, possesses great acceleration and a compact stroke. On defense, reports say that Span has a quick first step in the outfield and can go gap to gap.

Span said he grew up as an Atlanta Braves fan and also admired the play of Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. He's said that he's been often compared to White Sox center fielder Kenny Lofton.

"I'll take that any day," Span said.

Radcliff said that the Lofton comparisons are accurate, but he doesn't want to add any pressure to the young player.

"That's the style of play," Radcliff said. "A lead off guy, a run scorer. He's an off-the-board runner that should be able to steal bases. If he reaches his maximum bat potential, he has a chance to be an impact, leadoff-type offensive player."

Span was also a star football player for the school, causing him to still consider whether he wants to play college football or professional baseball. He has signed a baseball scholarship to play at the University of Florida.

		JUNE 4-5 | NEW YORK CITY Draft order | Rules | FAQ FULL COVERAGE: • Bullington goes first • Drafttracker • Complete Draft coverage Round-by-round audio Round 1 Rounds 2-5 Rounds 6-10 Rounds 11-15 Rounds 16-20 Rounds 21-22 Rounds 23-27 Rounds 28-32 Rounds 33-37 Rounds 38-42 Rounds 43-50

Radcliff believes that the Twins should be able to sign Span, but he doesn't expect it to happen overnight.

"In the new millennium, none of them sign immediately," Radcliff said. "Lots of people like to wait and see what the others around them get. I don't believe we'll sign him right away. But I do believe we'll sign him and get him out to play in either the Gulf Coast League or (Rookie League) Elizabethton this summer."

Other than going out for a celebratory dinner with his family Tuesday evening, Span said that he has no other immediate plans.

"I'm just going to enjoy this with family and friends," he said.

	TWINS 2002 DRAFT PICKS
	20	KEIUNTA D SPAN	CF	TAMPA CATHOLIC HS
	61	JESSE A CRAIN	RHP	U HOUSTON
	92	MARK A SAULS	RHP	BAY HS
	122	ALEXANDER E MERRICKS	LHP	OXNARD HS
	152	MICHAEL C THOMAS	CF	A CRAWFORD MOSLEY HS
	182	PATRICK J NESHEK	RHP	BUTLER U
	212	WILLIAM D BARRETT	LHP CF	U SAN DIEGO
	242	ADAM A LIND	1B	HIGHLAND HS
	272	DOUG D DEEDS	OF	OHIO ST U
	302	KYLE R PHILLIPS	C	EL CAPITAN HS
	332	EVAN D MEEK	RHP	INGLEMOOR HS
	362	JEFFREY B CLEMENT	C	MARSHALLTOWN HS
	392	WILLIAM C PETTIT	RHP	LOUISIANA ST U
	422	GARRETT L MOCK	RHP	GRAYSON COUNTY COL
	452	ADAM B HARBEN	RHP	U ARKANSAS FT SMITH JC
	482	KC J JONES	RHP	EATONVILLE HS
	512	ADAM T HAWES	RHP	ST THERESA'S CATHOLIC HS
	542	JAVIER R LOPEZ	RF	GALVESTON JC
	572	ADAM L DANIELS	LHP	NO SCHOOL
	602	RYAN G SCHREPPEL	LHP	LINCOLN HS
	632	THOMAS J PRUNTY	RHP	U MIAMI
	662	MICHAEL J SIMS	LF	MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST U
	692	DANIEL MATIENZO	C	U MIAMI
	722	JOSHUA C PETERSEN	1B	JUPITER COMMUNITY HS
	752	JUSTIN A KEELING	LHP	CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN U
	782	JARED K JOHNSON	RHP	CIMARRON-MEMORIAL HS
	812	RONALD PERODIN	CF	EL CAMINO COL
	842	HASAN K RASHEED	CF	WHITES CREEK HS
	872	JAMES B AVERY	RHP	CENTRAL COLLEGIATE HS
	902	ROBERTO MARTINEZ	RHP	ST PETERSBURG JC
	932	TERRY S KILLION	RHP	BOWIE HS
	962	JONATHON W KOCH	RHP	LAKE CITY CC
	992	THOMAS J FERRARA	RHP	BREVARD CC
	1022	CHRISTIAN A CASTORRI	RHP	THOMAS COUNTY CENTRAL HS
	1052	TARRENCE T PATTERSON	CF	BARTOW HS
	1082	JOHN B CAHILL	RHP	LAKEWOOD HS
	1112	MICHAEL A COSTANTINO	3B	SOMERSET HS
	1142	TOBY J GARDENHIRE	SS	WESTARK CC
	1172	BRANDON P DODDO	C	COOPER CITY HS
	1202	RODNEY A STORY	LHP	GULF COAST CC
	1232	CHRISTOPHER T BROWN	2B	COOPER CITY HS
	1262	KYLE Z GEIGER	C	REND LAKE
	1291	JACOB B JEAN	LHP	COSUMNES RIVER COL
	1319	CHRISTOPHER A BEATTY	LHP	KOKOMO HS
	1346	JOHN P STOCCO	RHP	HOLY ANGELS HS
	1373	WAYNE C RENFROW	RHP	KELLAM HS
	1399	BRANDON CARLTON	LHP	BAY HS
	1425	BRANDON J COHEN	CF	RIVER DELL HS
	1450	BROCK A PETERSON	3B	W F WEST HS
	1474	MICHAEL A BALLARD	LHP	OCEAN LAKES HS