Twins lose All-Star closer Nathan for the season
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MIAMI (Reuters) - Minnesota Twins All-Star closer Joe Nathan needs surgery on his right elbow and will be lost for the season, the team said Sunday.
Nathan, 35, will have a ligament replacement operation either this week or next, the Twins said on their website (http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com).
The four-times All-Star right-hander said he was "very confident" that he will be ready for the 2011 season-opener.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I don't fear whether I (will) come back next year," he said. "The biggest disappointment is the obvious -- just missing this year."
Nathan has a 46-22 record with 247 saves during his 10-year major league career with San Francisco and Minnesota. He was 2-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 47 saves for the Twins in 2009.
(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington, editing by Miles Evans)