Span on Revere: He can take over a game
If you want a scouting report on new Phillies center fielder Ben Revere, his former Minnesota Twins teammate Denard Span is more than willing to offer one.
Span on Revere: He can take over a game
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
VIERA, Fla. -- If you want a scouting report on new Phillies center fielder Ben Revere, his former Minnesota Twins teammate Denard Span is more than willing to offer one.
"First off, the Phillies got a real, real good player and a real good teammate," Span said before working out with his new team, the Washington Nationals Wednesday morning. "You'll see he's goofy, has a good sense of humor and likes to have fun. He's just a guy who brings it hard every day he is on the field. He plays the game the right way."
Span and Revere spent parts of three seasons together as teammates with the Twins, but both were traded to National League East teams in the offseason. Span, who turns 29 in a week, was dealt for Nationals' top pitching prospect Alex Meyer. Revere, 24, joined the Phillies in exchange for pitchers Vance Worley and Trevor May.
Because of Span's presence, Revere spent most of his time playing right field last season in Minnesota, but his speed makes him a natural center fielder. Span said he warned his new Nationals teammates about his former Twins teammate.
"I already told some of our guys that we're going to have to pay close attention to him," Span said. "If you let him, he will take over a game. He has the ability to change games with his speed both offensively and defensively. Every time he gets on base he's looking to steal second and third. He's a guy with plus-plus range as a center fielder."
Span admitted he could not beat Revere in a foot race at this stage of their careers.
"I'm five years older than him," Span said. "If you had asked me about four years ago, I would say me. But right now, present day, he'd get me. I give him the nod. I'm 29 and he's 24 or 25."
Revere may have plus-plus range defensively, but so far in his career he has shown little power. He has 33 extra-base hits and zero home runs in 1,064 big-league plate appearances. Revere has launched some balls out of the park during batting practice in his first spring training with the Phillies.
"You know what, if he's going to hit one, it will definitely be in Philly because Philly is definitely a hitter's ballpark and I can see him hitting more than one in that ballpark," Span said. "If he doesn't hit one in that park, I'm going to have to have a talk with him."
"LOL!! He should be hitting behind the pitcher!
— justacarpenter"
In the NL, every leadoff batter hits behind the pitcher. Could that be what you meant?
— Claudio Vernight- Time for the faux Ricky Henderson, J-Roll to step down as lead-off hitter.— DoctorLoads
- Revere will get on base; we need baserunners to win;— terrycindyian
- If you liked Ricky Otero, you'll love Ben Revere.— guyguy4
- Well there is nothing like having a gun for an arm in the OF - the other thing is to get rid of the ball fast especially if you have a weak arm - anyway that was the advice I was given.— majpooper
- I don't know what all the fuss about power is with Revere. Richie Ashburn was the greatest Phillies center fielder of all time and I believe he had about 20 homers in over 10,000 plate appearances---and several of them were at the Polo Grounds where the right field fence was little league distance and several were inside-the-park. He also could take over a game and manufacture a run with a 10 pitch walk or a dribbler to short, a steal, move to third on a ground ball and score on another one. And let's remember, he ended up in the Hall of Fame even though he played in an era of Mantle, Mays and Snider in CF as well as Ted Williams, Henry Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Stan Musial also playing in the outfield during his tenure.— gotedge
- With the self-proclaimed "hitting guru" tinkering with Revere's swing, I have him penciled in with hitting 15-18 home runs out of the 6 hole.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- a well thought out, positive, rational post...thank you gotedge— sedale
- this guy should be leading off Jay role only plays when he wants to Chuckie can't see that— abbyzuk
- Quit worrying about power numbers out of a lead off guy. We don't want Rollins 2.0 here. We need a guy who can get on base. Revere does need to work on his walks to improve his OBP but a walk and a steal is the same as an extra base hit when you lead off. Just hope Sandberg works with this guy and not Cholly RFD who clearly doesn't get the leadoff hitter concept. And pray Rollins isn't the leadoff hitter all year— JuanSamuel4prez
