Stony Brook to name baseball field after Nathan

His No. 22, represented with a red replica on the rightfield wall at University Field is the only retired number in the history of Stony Brook University athletics. But that will not be Joe Nathan's legacy to his alma mater.

The Class of '97 graduate and Minnesota Twins All-Star closer was introduced to the crowd Saturday as a special guest for the final game on the field before it undergoes a major renovation. When it reopens next year, it will be called Joe Nathan Stadium.

"It means a lot to be here," said Nathan, who is sitting out the 2010 season because of Tommy John surgery. "This place was such a perfect fit for me. We kind of grew up together."

Nathan's agent, David Pepe, told Newsday that Nathan donated $500,000 for the field but never asked to be recognized.

"That was my call," Stony Brook athletic director Jim Fiore said of naming the stadium after Nathan. "He represents everything we want our kids to become. He's generous. He gives back. He cares about the place. We didn't name the stadium for him because he's a pro player, but because he's a pro person."

Yesterday, Nathan basked in being the big man on campus he wasn't as a student-athlete.

"When I first got here, I really wasn't that good of a high school player,'' he said, "and this place allowed me to grow physically and mentally. Obviously, this program has grown with me."

When he and other baseball alumni were asked to take their old positions as part of the ceremony, Nathan jogged out to shortstop. That's where he played at Stony Brook, but soon after being drafted by the Giants, he was told they wanted to make him a pitcher.

"It definitely took some persuading. I still thought I could make it as a shortstop," Nathan said. "At the time they told me, I wasn't ready for that mentally. I came back here and finished up school. That time was really great for me. It allowed me to get my degree, clear my head and be ready to give this pitching thing a shot."