born november american professional baseball pitcher mlb started baseball career shortstop high school converted pitcher drafted san_francisco_giants worked way minor leagues alternating spots rotation bullpen years splitting time majors minors breakout season setup man giants offseason traded closer considered mlb star appearances league leading saves underwent surgery repair torn throwing elbow missed entire season april recorded save injury later year july regained role closer august twins time leader saves game boston_red_sox season left twins free agency sign texas_rangers star april earned save season left rangers free agency sign detroit_tigers currently 8th time saves list early career graduated pine bush new_york played basketball baseball ran track division iii colleges showed minimal interest ended largely high school assistant coach baseball coach knew teammates baseball program college career played shortstop division called long_island new_york time academic american graduating member tenure professional baseball scouts began notice good arm pitcher body day unfortunately literally organization came watch pitch drafted sixth round overall amateur draft san_francisco_giants signed day june college jersey number retired awarded university medal highest recognition given played new england collegiate baseball league august gave brook athletics department new baseball facility recognition lead gift college named joe field professional career began minor league career class unsuccessful year plate giants tried convert pitcher refused left return year graduating degree business management gave thought future baseball graduation decided return giants organization developed standout pitching prospect season salem pitched levels starter tenure started games era strikeouts leading class giants california league championship promoted pitched games promoted parent club san_francisco_giants promoted san_francisco_giants april taking roster spot superstar went disabled list left elbow surgery major league debut day pitching seven shutout innings winning major league decision florida divided rest season giants going giants earning career save short stint minors spent season majors finishing hitting home runs struggled control walking innings ending season era disabled list twice june right shoulder july august right shoulder necessitating surgery afflicted shoulder end season divided starting relieving finishing disappointing combined record era improved slightly era finally overcame struggles return giants september scoreless innings relief spent giants bullpen marrying girlfriend years november breakout year starting season scoreless innings route record year appearances high list pitchers season best setup men allowing runs appearances july august wins relief led majors giants won national_league west games drew florida national_league wild card winner hit hard series blowing save opportunity team fared better winning game complete game shutout dropping traded november trades san_francisco_giants history giants sent twins pitchers catcher cash twins decided closer starting risky considering save opportunities giant won job spring training signed year deal march agreed incentive laden contract base salary started season strong allowing runs appearances earning saves april june named week starting saves innings appearances facing minimum number batters time credentials half season saves opportunities era appearances earned star appearance mlb star game twin squad pitched perfect seventh inning getting strike fly strike numbers impressive rest season allowing runs june august august september finishing saves opportunities era twins won division faced new_york_yankees picked postseason save game blew second opportunity game twins went lose ensuing games outstanding season earned mvp young votes finishing fourth young 12th mvp child son named cole born november spring training signed year deal includes club option picked left allowing earned runs appearances april streaks consecutive save opportunities converted april july result named week week june earned star appearance pitching half season record era appearances struck batters innings pitched lead saves opportunities pitched mlb star game alongside fellow pitcher pitching eighth inning game got pop gave double singled able scored brilliant second half went saves chances posted era finished season record era saves opportunities strikeouts pitcher club history post consecutive save seasons twins missed playoffs season began participated world baseball classic players selected roster played game win mexico striking allowing hit pitched victory japan throwing shutout inning went pitch game united_states ninth inning mexico allowing run striking regular season began twins started strong allowing runs start season april converted straight save opportunities april june june recorded career save chicago_cubs save minnesota days later got save number save minnesota los_angeles_dodgers fifth pitcher twins history achieve mark despite putting great numbers season selected continued pitch season passing second twins time save list earned save detroit_tigers september given major_league_baseball delivery man month award july going save opportunities posting era month finished season best numbers date record era strikeouts saves 18th place finish mvp voting fifth place finish young voting games finished good lead opponents batted career high saves opportunities pitcher organization earn saves straight seasons twins won division day regular season swept scoreless appearance continued twins closer season stretch july august gave earned runs converted save chances despite numbers picked star team finished year converting save opportunities record era twins disappointing season missed playoffs september named finalists delivery man year award year row finalist october twins exercised club option slated million march signed year million contract deal includes million club option million started season consecutive saves blew save season giving run inside park home run fly ball got outs end 9th inning twins went win game converting save opportunities prior star break selected reserve player american_league finished year saves career best era career high blown saves surrendered career walk home run september ranked seventh majors saves lowest era save leaders strong season selected star mlb star game finished year era saves opportunities franchise record shared honors relief man award fare postseason game new_york_yankees twins leading ninth inning blew save surrendered game tying run home run home run allowed men base year yankees later won game 11th inning swept series october twins lost final game playoff loss yankees eliminated took pile dirt mound march reported tear march attempting pitch having surgery decided undergo surgery missing entire season earned save target field april emptied container dirt took mound target field pitching april replaced closer going save opportunities placed day disabled list right muscle strain called place august boston_red_sox twins time saves leader passing twins declined million club option exercised million free agent end season currently leader career saves texas_rangers november agreed terms year deal texas_rangers worth million guaranteed option year million strong season rangers selected represent rangers mlb star game fifth star selection career finished campaign saves era game april earned career save striking looking controversial strike home plate umpire cameras captured saying wow selected sixth star game earned save american_league improved campaign finishing season saves era finished rangers career overall record saves era whip detroit_tigers december tigers signed year million contract club option reunited teammate fellow twins great rangers teammate recorded career save tying ninth time saves list days later recorded career save number putting ninth time saves list june recorded career save tying 8th time saves list august recorded career save passing 7th place time saves list september game blew seventh save season surpassing previous career high blown saves pitched twins finished season tigers making appearances recording saves chances posting era postseason appearance retiring batters faced non save situation game baltimore_orioles tigers swept series april placed day disabled list strained right elbow rehab start april injured elbow throwing pitches night underwent tested positive revealing tears elbow muscle undergo surgery ending season sources projected surgery end career planning retire offseason tigers declined million club option season exercised million chicago cubs present signed chicago_cubs immediately placed day disabled list signing continue recovery previous surgery cubs debut july milwaukee brewers pitched inning struck allowing hit walk records notable statistics personal life married lisa children foundation called save helps raise money awareness different charities reside tennessee offseason pitching style throws mix pitches main pitch fastball thrown mid upper 90s mph main breaking ball hard upper 80s occasionally touching uses frequently left handed hitters preferring use low 80s uses fastball best swing miss pitch rate
Joe Nathan