March 27, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Former Stony Brook University baseball great and current All-Star reliever for the Minnesota Twins, Joe Nathan `97, recently agreed to terms with the Twins on a contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2012 season. Nathan was inducted into the Stony Brook Athletics Hall of Fame on Dec. 6, 2006 when he also became the first former Stony Brook student-athlete to have his number retired.

Nathan was 4-2, with a 1.88 ERA last season, allowing 54 hits with 19 walks and 77 strikeouts in 68 appearances. He also recorded 37 saves which ranked sixth in the American League. His 160 saves over the last four seasons (2004-07) are tied with Mariano Rivera for the most in the American League during that span. In addition, he became the first pitcher in club history to record 36-or-more saves in four consecutive seasons.

The two-time All-Star has a career record of 43-18 with a 3.00 ERA, striking out 555 batters in 548.2 innings of work. A 1997 graduate of Stony Brook, Nathan was a two-time Academic All-American in his time with the Seawolves and also received the University Medal, the highest honor conferred by the University.