Jim Souhan: Strange paths can lead players to major leagues

Rick Aguilera was a high school third baseman who became the Twins' record-holder for saves. Troy Percival was a minor league catcher who became an All-Star closer.

So perhaps it should not surprise us that the two teams at the Metrodome employed former college shortstops as their closers this weekend, or that both are excelling.

The Twins' Joe Nathan didn't become a pitcher until his second stint as a San Francisco Giants prospect; now he might be the best closer in baseball. The Blue Jays' Jeremy Accardo, another former Giants prospect, played shortstop at Illinois State and, in the summer of 2001, for the Alexandria Beetles of the Northwoods League before making the career change that led him to the big leagues.

If you're one of the Minnesotans who attended Beetles games in 2001, you might have seen the light-hitting shortstop named Accardo pitch an inning or two, in his first dabbling on the mound since high school. After pitching in the Alaskan summer league after his junior year in college, he signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent.

"The first day I reported to the Giants, I walked into our head minor league guy's office, and he said I reminded him of Joe," Accardo said. "Then I got to know Joe really well, from working out in the offseason.

"It was kind of cool that they said I reminded them of Joe. I took that mindset and ran with it."

He's still running. The Jays picked up Accardo when they traded Shea Hillenbrand to the Giants last year. Until Saturday night, Accardo, now filling in for injured Jays closer B.J. Ryan, had pitched 21 consecutive scoreless innings and converted all five of his save opportunities while displaying a live arm and a closer's gumption. The Twins handed him a blown save Saturday when they got four hits and three earned runs against him in the ninth inning. Still, his ERA rose to only 1.25.

Accardo's story speaks to the difficulty of judging young baseball talent, the unpredictability of pitching careers and the potential for seeing a future star in any game in the Northwoods League, the Upper Midwest summer league for college players that emphasizes the use of wooden bats.

"I still talk to my host family from Alexandria," Accardo said. "It was a great time. I played with a bunch of good guys."

Friday afternoon, Accardo chatted with Nathan in the Metrodome outfield, and the two could have been discussing how many outstanding pitching prospects have fallen by the wayside as the two former shortstops have climbed the professional ladder.

"Maybe there's something to that," Nathan said. "I think it's a case where we have some innings left to give in our arms. We didn't get overused in college, and now it seems we can come in and if we do get a chance, and we learn how to pitch ... maybe our careers can last a little longer."

Percival, at 37, is making a comeback. Nathan, at 32, looks as if he could pitch for another decade. And Accardo has joined the list of Northwoods League alums who have stuck in the big leagues, along with Juan Pierre, Andre Ethier, Pat Neshek, Curtis Granderson and Bobby Kielty.

"I was a shortstop in Alexandria, but I also pitched a couple of times, and caught, and played all over," Accardo said. "I had pitched once or twice in high school, so that was probably the first time I really pitched. I think I pitched just because we were hurting."

Which is why he's closing now. Ryan is out for the year after having Tommy John surgery. "I'm just trying to keep it going until B.J. gets back," Accardo said. "B.J.'s one of the best, and so is Joe. I try to pick their brains as much as possible."

From college shortstop to Northwoods League emergency reliever to Toronto closer -- it's an unusual path that Nathan finds familiar. "I always knew Jeremy had the stuff," Nathan said. "All he needed was an opportunity."

Jim Souhan can be heard Sundays from 10 a.m.-noon on AM-1500 KSTP. • jsouhan@startribune.com