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| Glen Perkins | |
|---|---|
| Name | Glen Perkins |
| Position | Pitcher |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Birth date | 1 September 1983 |
| Birth place | Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA |
| Teams | * Minnesota Twins (2006, 2010–2016) |
| Highlights | * 2× All-Star (2014, 2015) |
Glen Perkins is an American former professional Baseball pitcher who played his entire Major League career with the Minnesota Twins. Known for a transition from starting pitcher to late-inning reliever and closer, he appeared in multiple postseason rosters and earned consecutive All-Star selections. Perkins's career is noted for a combination of fastball command, cutter usage, and resilience through injuries.
Perkins was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota and raised in the Twin Cities metro area, where he attended East Ridge High School before enrolling at Iowa State University and later transferring to the University of Minnesota. At Minnesota he played for the Golden Gophers and competed in the Big Ten Conference against programs such as Indiana and Ohio State. During collegiate summer seasons he pitched for teams in Cape Cod Baseball League-affiliated circuits and drew scouting attention from Major League Baseball organizations. Perkins was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the MLB Draft, entering the Twins' farm system and progressing through minor league affiliates including stints with the Elizabethton Twins, Fort Myers Miracle, Rochester Red Wings, and New Britain Rock Cats. His amateur development emphasized sinker movement and strike-throwing mechanics, attracting comparisons to other regional prospects from Minnesota and the Midwest.
Perkins debuted in the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 2006, returning to Triple-A before establishing himself on the Twins' pitching staff in the 2010s. Early in his career he served in a swing role as a starter and long reliever, appearing alongside rotation members such as Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker. In 2011 the Twins moved Perkins to the bullpen, where he progressively assumed high-leverage roles, eventually becoming the primary closer in the 2014 season following roster changes that involved Joe Nathan and others. Perkins recorded multiple seasons with 20-plus saves, contributing to Twins' campaigns that featured teammates like Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Torii Hunter.
In 2014 and 2015 Perkins was selected to the MLB All-Star Game, representing the Twins on rosters that included stars from the American League such as Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera. He pitched in postseason play during Twins contention windows and faced lineups constructed by clubs including the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago White Sox. Injuries affected Perkins's later seasons; he underwent procedures related to elbow and shoulder issues and spent time on the disabled list (MLB). The Twins placed Perkins on various rehab assignments with minor league affiliates, and he attempted comebacks that included bullpen and spot-start roles. Perkins announced his retirement after the 2016 season, closing a major league tenure spent entirely with the Minnesota Twins organization.
Perkins relied primarily on a four-seam fastball and a cutter, supplementing with a slider and changeup to neutralize hitters. His repertoire emphasized movement and location rather than overpowering velocity, which drew tactical deployment by Twins managers during close games and late innings. As a closer, Perkins demonstrated situational effectiveness in converting save opportunities and generating strikeouts in high-leverage appearances. He accumulated consecutive seasons with double-digit saves, earned two consecutive All-Star Game selections (2014, 2015), and produced notable performances against American League lineups featuring sluggers from the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers.
Statistically, Perkins compiled career totals that reflected role flexibility—recording wins, saves, and holds while maintaining a strikeout-to-walk ratio indicative of command. Advanced metrics during his peak seasons showed positive results in peripheral categories used by analysts at outlets covering teams like the Minnesota Twins, and his durability across multiple appearances was valued in bullpen management strategies. Opposing managers and hitters, including those from the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles, often prepared game plans specifically for his cutter and late-inning approach.
Perkins has ties to the Minnesota community beyond his professional play, participating in outreach associated with the Twins' charitable initiatives and events linked to local institutions such as the Minnesota Twins Community Foundation. He has family roots in the Twin Cities and has been involved with youth baseball programs in the region. Off the field, Perkins has appeared in media coverage alongside Twins teammates, front office figures from the Minnesota Twins organization, and local broadcasters in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market.
After retiring from Major League Baseball, Perkins remained connected to the sport through coaching, mentorship, and occasional media contributions for regional sports coverage. He has been involved with clinics and training sessions at facilities used by youth and collegiate players, collaborating with programs affiliated with the University of Minnesota and area high schools. Perkins has also participated in alumni events organized by the Minnesota Twins and engaged in community fundraising drives that partner with regional nonprofits. His post-playing career activities reflect continued engagement with baseball development in Minnesota and support for emerging players in the Midwest.
Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Minnesota Twins players Category:People from Saint Paul, Minnesota