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Looks like he's on track...nice pickup for those who took a low priced flyer and stashed him. That means you, DQ. 
FORT MYERS, FLA. - Twins closer Joe Nathan will arrive at spring training Tuesday with even more confidence that his recovery from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery last year has gone well.
The righthander took the mound Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium at the University of Tennessee for his final bullpen session before camp and was surprised by what he learned from it.
"They didn't tell me before or during, it came after," Nathan said over the telephone from Knoxville. "They said they had a gun on me and I was like, 'Really?' "
According to the radar gun, Nathan threw 88 to 89 miles per hour consistently, hitting 91 three times. It's not clear if the radar gun the Volunteers use is the same as the one used in the majors, but even if it's off 2 to 3 mph, it still isn't far off from how fast Nathan has thrown in the past.
In his first spring training with the Twins in 2004, Nathan was clocked at 87 to 91 mph during a late March spring game. Nathan checked with the San Francisco Giants, his former club, and was told that his velocity always was down during spring training but picked up in April.
So he likes the progression he's on.
"That's very promising," said Nathan, who threw 45 to 50 pitches Sunday. "It at least gave me peace of mind that I'm at or above where I am velocity-wise at this time of the year.
"It's nice to know I can come back and feel like this spring shouldn't be that much different."
Nathan, 36, had his surgery last March 26 and recently said he has suffered no setbacks over his 11-month rehab. The four-time All-Star's first spring bullpen session is scheduled for Friday.
The righthander took the mound Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium at the University of Tennessee for his final bullpen session before camp and was surprised by what he learned from it.
"They didn't tell me before or during, it came after," Nathan said over the telephone from Knoxville. "They said they had a gun on me and I was like, 'Really?' "
According to the radar gun, Nathan threw 88 to 89 miles per hour consistently, hitting 91 three times. It's not clear if the radar gun the Volunteers use is the same as the one used in the majors, but even if it's off 2 to 3 mph, it still isn't far off from how fast Nathan has thrown in the past.
In his first spring training with the Twins in 2004, Nathan was clocked at 87 to 91 mph during a late March spring game. Nathan checked with the San Francisco Giants, his former club, and was told that his velocity always was down during spring training but picked up in April.
So he likes the progression he's on.
"That's very promising," said Nathan, who threw 45 to 50 pitches Sunday. "It at least gave me peace of mind that I'm at or above where I am velocity-wise at this time of the year.
"It's nice to know I can come back and feel like this spring shouldn't be that much different."
Nathan, 36, had his surgery last March 26 and recently said he has suffered no setbacks over his 11-month rehab. The four-time All-Star's first spring bullpen session is scheduled for Friday.
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