High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Joseph Michael Nathan (born November 22, 1974 in Houston, Texas) is a Major League Baseball closer for the Minnesota Twins. He bats and throws right-handed, and stands at a height of 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m). He started playing baseball as a shortstop in high school, and played the same position in college. However, he became a pitcher after the San Francisco Giants drafted him in 1995. After working his way through the minor leagues, he alternated between spots in the rotation and the bullpen. He spent a few seasons splitting time between the majors and the minors before having a breakout season as a relief pitcher in 2003. Nathan joined the Minnesota Twins in 2004 and became their closing pitcher. Nathan is considered one of the top closers in baseball.