Minnesota Twins activate reliever Glen Perkins from 60-day DL
By Tim Haberin
As the Minnesota Twins prepare for the stretch run, they’ll add Glen Perkins back to their bullpen. The veteran has earned 120 saves in a Twins uniform.
The Los Angeles Angels aren’t the only team welcoming back a key member for the playoff push. The Minnesota Twins activated veteran relief pitcher Glen Perkins from the 60-day disabled list before today’s doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. In a corresponding move, the club placed left-hander Dietrich Enns on the 10-day DL to make room on the roster.
Like the Halos’ Andrew Heaney, Perkins has been on the shelf for the better part of two seasons now. The 34-year-old lefty appeared in just two games last year before requiring surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Before that, he spent several seasons as one of baseball’s most durable and effective relievers.
A first-round draft pick by the Twins in 2004, Perkins’ entire major league career has taken place in Minnesota. After moving to the bullpen full-time, he came into his own as a professional. From 2011 to 2015, Perkins posted a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 4.66 K/BB ratio while averaging 63 innings per season.
Perkins also emerged as a bona fide closer, notching 120 saves in 141 opportunities over that span (85.1 conversion rate), including a career-high of 36 in 2013. He cracked the 30-save mark each year from 2013 to 2015, and made the All-Star team in all three of those seasons as well.
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The Twins bullpen could use a boost; it sports an overall 4.59 ERA this year, which ranks just 25th among both leagues. Minnesota’s standout performer in the pen had been Brandon Kintzler, who had gone 28-for-32 in save chances with a 2.78 ERA before being traded to the Washington Nationals before the deadline.
A rough spell prior to the July 31 trade deadline compelled the Twins to sell off some pieces, even starting pitcher Jaime Garcia, who they had acquired only about a week earlier. Veteran Matt Belisle has assumed closing duties since then, but it’s understandably a fluid situation. The 37-year-old has blown four of six opportunities and owns a 4.70 ERA, so his hold on the job isn’t exactly firm.
That said, it’s hard to expect Perkins to just come back and reclaim his old role. After over a year and a half away, he’ll need to continue rebuilding his stamina and prove he can still handle high-leverage situations. His minor league rehab assignment was a bit rough, as Perkins allowed five runs on six hits and five walks in 7.1 innings. However, he did rack up 10 strikeouts. Minnesota will hope to see more of the rust fall off as its former closer gets back into the swing of things.
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While it’s by no means a certainty, an effective Glen Perkins would be a real pick-me-up for a Twins club that surprisingly vaulted right back into the postseason picture after more or less waving the white flag immediately prior to the trade deadline. They are currently just a game behind the Angels for the second Wild Card spot.
Even if he doesn’t return to vintage form in 2017, Perkins’ 11 seasons of MLB experience should be a positive factor for Minnesota as it attempts to stay in the race.