PRESS RELEASE: FEBRUARY 1, 2026

Straw, Lowe return to Palatka for baseball jersey retirements at SJR State

Myles Straw and Nathaniel Lowe return to the SJR State Palatka Campus to retire their jersey numbers. From left Baseball Head Coach Ross Jones, Straw, Lowe and SJR State President Joe Pickens.

2026 Vikings teammates unveil the retired jersey numbers of Nathaniel Lowe and Myles Straw.

Vikings legends Myles Straw (#12) and Nathaniel Lowe (#30), from the St. Johns River State College 2015 championship team, returned to their alma mater Sunday for a ceremony to officially retire their jersey numbers.

Now playing in the Major Leagues, Straw plays center field for the Toronto Blue Jays and Nathaniel Lowe plays first baseman for the Boston Red Sox.

According to Head Baseball Coach Ross Jones, Straw and Lowe are among the most impactful players the program has had, contributing to a 47-10 (most winning) season, a mid-Florida Conference Championship, and a Final Four appearance in the Division I state tournament.

SJR State President Joe Pickens reflected on his and Jones’ arrival to SJR State in 2008, where the College had not won a conference championship in any sport in the 30 previous years.

“What Coach Jones did from the start was teach us how to win… When Nathaniel and Myles got here and that 2015 team was ranked #1 in the nation, it made us realize as an institution that it doesn’t really matter how small we are, we can compete with anybody in the country,” Pickens said. “That team and these two young men proved that to us, and we’ve believed it ever since. Fast forward to the last two years, and all of our athletic programs have been to either their world series or a national championship.”

In a heartfelt speech, Jones welcomed many of the 2015 team back to the Palatka Campus and reflected on how he recruited Straw and Lowe to put their trust in the Vikings program. “It’s been so much fun to watch these two grow, not just as baseball players, but as men,” Jones said.

Lowe and Straw extended their gratitude in being honored. “I’m so thankful to come back to a place like this and feel such a warm welcome. It’s an honor,” Lowe said.

“I came here as a walk on, unsure of myself…,” Straw said. “I still talk to teammates about the two years I had here. It’s a great place to play baseball. Thank you everyone.”

Straw, from Bradenton, Florida, began his career at SJR State as a walk-on during the 2014 season, contributing as an outfielder and occasional pitcher, helping the team secure consecutive Mid-Florida Conference championships. During the 2015 season, Straw hit .413 with one home run and 27 RBIs and shared the club lead in runs scored of 59 with Lowe.

Lowe, from Marietta, Florida, whom Jones recruited from Mercer University, hit .372 with a team-leading 17 home runs and 53 RBIs.

In the Major Leagues, Lowe was awarded the Silver Slugger Award for American League first baseman with 27 home runs and 76 RBIs with the Texas Rangers in 2022. Also that year, Straw won the AL Gold Glove for his play in center field with only two errors in 385 chances with the Cleveland Guardians. More recently, Straw (2025) and Lowe (2023) have made World Series appearances.

Straw and Lowe’s jerseys are retired next to fellow Vikings greats John Tindall #14 (former player and later head coach), Howie Kendrick #4 (2019 Washington Nationals), and Bill Swaggerty #24 (1983 Baltimore Orioles).

Established in 1958, St. Johns River State College is one of 28 community/state colleges located throughout Florida and serves Clay, Putnam and St. Johns counties. SJR State is renowned for providing a quality education combined with a sense of community.

Flickr album

Fans and members of Palatka’s Babe Ruth team line up for autographs from Lowe and Straw.

Head coach Ross Jones begins the presentation on Tindall Field. From left, Nathaniel Lowe, Jones, Bill Swaggerty (former Viking and Baltimore player), and Myles Straw.