Joe Nathan

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**Joe Nathan**
Major League Baseball debut
Minnesota Twins — No. 36
Pitcher
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
April 21, 1999 for the San Francisco Giants
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Wins-Losses	39-16
Saves	124
Strikeouts	478
Former teams
San Francisco Giants (1999 – 2004)

Joseph Michael Nathan (born November 22, 1974 in Houston, Texas) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Minnesota Twins (since 2004). He bats and throws right handed.

Nathan was drafted as a shortstop by the San Francisco Giants in 1995 out of State University of New York at Stony Brook. After an unsuccessful year at the plate in rookie ball, the Giants tried to convert Nathan into a pitcher, but he refused to do that and left the game. After a year pursuing his degree in business management, Nathan returned to the Giants organization and became a standout pitching prospect, receiving his promotion to the big-league club in 1999.

In a five-season career, Nathan has compiled a 39-16 record with a 3.17 ERA and 124 saves in 327 games. He made the American League All-Stars team in 2004 and 2005.

Nathan was traded to the Twins by the San Francisco Giants on November 14, 2003 in what has become one of the most lopsided trades in recent baseball history. The Giants sent Nathan along with top pitching prospect Francisco Liriano, Boof Bonser and a player to be named later or cash considerations for controversial catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Whereas Pierzynski only lasted one season in San Francisco, where he butted heads with several pitchers, Nathan has become one of the game's best closers and Liriano has established himself as one of baseball's best young pitchers in 2006.