Glen Perkins
Encyclopedia
Glen Weston Perkins is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the Minnesota Twins
. He made his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins
in 2006. Perkins attended the University of Minnesota
in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Stillwater Area High School
in Oak Park Heights
. Perkins earned his first Major league win on May 20, 2008, against the Texas Rangers.
in 2003 and 2004. With the Gophers in 2003, he went 10-2 and posted a 2.91 ERA with 117 strikeouts. In his 2004 season with the Gophers, he went 9-3 and posted a 2.83 ERA with 113 strikeouts. Perkins was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
in the 1st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
, being picked 22nd overall.
Between the years of 2004-2008, Perkins played most of his games for the Minnesota Twins
minor league system. He pitched for the Elizabethton Twins, Quad City Swing, Fort Myers Miracle, Gulf Coast Twins, New Britain Rock Cats
, and the AAA Rochester Red Wings
.In his three seasons with Minnesota Twins
minor league teams, he pitched 386.2 innings, posting a 16-22 record with a 3.50 ERA and 380 strikeouts. He was ranked number 66 in Baseball America's
Top 100 Prospects.
. Coming in to relieve teammate Matt Guerrier
, Perkins pitched 1.1 innings of perfect baseball. Perkins pitched in 4 regular season games in the 2006 season, all in September as a relief pitcher
. He pitched 5.2 innings giving up no runs and striking out 6.
In his 2007 season, Perkins pitched in 19 games for the Minnesota Twins
, all as a reliever. In 28.2 innings pitched, Perkins finished the season with a 0-0, posting a 3.14 ERA, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts. Injuries caused his season to be short with the Minnesota Twins
, as he did not pitch into June.
, he pitched 33.1 innings, recording two wins, one loss, a 2.97 ERA, and 27 strikeouts. On May 7, 2008, Perkins was called up to replace injured teammate Scott Baker. He started his first major league game against the Boston Red Sox on May 10, 2008. He recorded his first major league win in a home start against the Texas Rangers on May 20, 2008.
On May 25, 2008, he pitched arguably his best major league performance. Starting in a road game against the Detroit Tigers
, Perkins recorded the win by pitching 7.2 innings, giving up 7 hits, 1 ER, 2 walks, and striking out 4.
Through June 5, 2008, Perkins has started in all eleven of his appearances with the Twins. He has pitched 64.2 innings, posting a 4-2 record, 4.31 ERA, and 38 strikeouts.
On July 18, 2008, Perkins went six innings combined with three relievers on a three-hit shutout of the Texas Rangers
. It was the first time this season that the game's highest-scoring offense has been shut out. Perkins is 5-0 in his last six starts and 7-2 with a 3.84 ERA overall.
. Through July, he was 4-9 with a 6.08 ERA with the Red Wings, though he showed enough improvement to get a mid-season call-up with the Twins. Perkins started one game and made three relief appearances, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA before being optioned back to Rochester. Perkins returned to the majors in September after rosters expanded and ended the season 1-1.
, and two types of curveball
s. His fastball normally stays consistent in the low 90s; however, his fastball has been known to reach mid-90s. According to the Minnesota Twins
organization, he has one of the better changeup
s on the team. His curveball
can either break hard or slow. Additionally, over the course of his pitching career, he has developed more stamina that can allow him to pitch late in games.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He made his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 2006. Perkins attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Stillwater Area High School
Stillwater Area High School
Stillwater Area High School is a public school located in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota and is part of the Stillwater Area Public Schools - District 834...
in Oak Park Heights
Oak Park Heights, Minnesota
Oak Park Heights is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,339 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land...
. Perkins earned his first Major league win on May 20, 2008, against the Texas Rangers.
College and minor league career
Perkins played his college ball for the Minnesota Golden GophersMinnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
in 2003 and 2004. With the Gophers in 2003, he went 10-2 and posted a 2.91 ERA with 117 strikeouts. In his 2004 season with the Gophers, he went 9-3 and posted a 2.83 ERA with 113 strikeouts. Perkins was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the 1st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
, being picked 22nd overall.
Between the years of 2004-2008, Perkins played most of his games for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
minor league system. He pitched for the Elizabethton Twins, Quad City Swing, Fort Myers Miracle, Gulf Coast Twins, New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
, and the AAA Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
.In his three seasons with Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
minor league teams, he pitched 386.2 innings, posting a 16-22 record with a 3.50 ERA and 380 strikeouts. He was ranked number 66 in Baseball America's
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
Top 100 Prospects.
2006 and 2007 season
Perkins made his MLB debut on September 21, 2006, against the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Coming in to relieve teammate Matt Guerrier
Matt Guerrier
Matthew Olson Guerrier is an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He attended college at Kent State University, and made his major league debut on June 17, .-Chicago White Sox:...
, Perkins pitched 1.1 innings of perfect baseball. Perkins pitched in 4 regular season games in the 2006 season, all in September as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He pitched 5.2 innings giving up no runs and striking out 6.
In his 2007 season, Perkins pitched in 19 games for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, all as a reliever. In 28.2 innings pitched, Perkins finished the season with a 0-0, posting a 3.14 ERA, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts. Injuries caused his season to be short with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, as he did not pitch into June.
2008 season
Perkins pitched 11 innings for the Minnesota Twins during spring training, recording one win and one loss with a 5.73 ERA. He did not make the team and was sent down to Triple-A Rochester. With the Rochester Red WingsRochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, he pitched 33.1 innings, recording two wins, one loss, a 2.97 ERA, and 27 strikeouts. On May 7, 2008, Perkins was called up to replace injured teammate Scott Baker. He started his first major league game against the Boston Red Sox on May 10, 2008. He recorded his first major league win in a home start against the Texas Rangers on May 20, 2008.
On May 25, 2008, he pitched arguably his best major league performance. Starting in a road game against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Perkins recorded the win by pitching 7.2 innings, giving up 7 hits, 1 ER, 2 walks, and striking out 4.
Through June 5, 2008, Perkins has started in all eleven of his appearances with the Twins. He has pitched 64.2 innings, posting a 4-2 record, 4.31 ERA, and 38 strikeouts.
On July 18, 2008, Perkins went six innings combined with three relievers on a three-hit shutout of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. It was the first time this season that the game's highest-scoring offense has been shut out. Perkins is 5-0 in his last six starts and 7-2 with a 3.84 ERA overall.
2010 season
Perkins began 2010 with the Twins' Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red WingsRochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. Through July, he was 4-9 with a 6.08 ERA with the Red Wings, though he showed enough improvement to get a mid-season call-up with the Twins. Perkins started one game and made three relief appearances, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA before being optioned back to Rochester. Perkins returned to the majors in September after rosters expanded and ended the season 1-1.
2011 season
Perkins played the whole season as the Minnesota Twins' most reliable relief man. He ended the season playing 65 games going 4-4 with a 2.48 era. Perkins won the Twins Pitcher of the Year Award and Twins Comeback Player of the Year Award after the breakout season.Pitching style
Perkins pitching repertoire consists of a fastball, changeupChangeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, and two types of curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
s. His fastball normally stays consistent in the low 90s; however, his fastball has been known to reach mid-90s. According to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
organization, he has one of the better changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
s on the team. His curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
can either break hard or slow. Additionally, over the course of his pitching career, he has developed more stamina that can allow him to pitch late in games.