Perkins played his college ball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2003 and 2004. With the Gophers in 2003,he went 10–2 and posted a 2.91 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 15 games (13 starts). In his 2004 season with the Gophers,he went 9–3 and posted a 2.83 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 16 games (15 starts).[1] Perkins was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2004 MLB draft,as a compensation pick from the Seattle Mariners for their signing of Eddie Guardado.[2]
Perkins made his MLB debut on September 21,2006,against the Boston Red Sox. Coming in to relieve teammate Matt Guerrier,Perkins pitched 1+1⁄3 perfect innings.[4] Perkins pitched in four regular season games in the 2006 season, all in September as a relief pitcher. He pitched 5+2⁄3 innings, recording a 1.59 ERA while striking out six.[5]
2007 season
In his 2007 season, Perkins pitched in 19 games for the Twins, all as a reliever. In 28+2⁄3 innings pitched, Perkins finished the season with a 3.14 ERA, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts.[5] Due to a shoulder injury, he spent time significant time on the disabled list from May 22 to September 11.[6]
2008 season
Perkins pitched 12 innings for the Twins during spring training, going 1–2 with a 7.50 ERA.[1] He did not make the team and was sent down to Triple-A Rochester.[7] While with Rochester, he pitched 33+1⁄3 innings, compiling a 2–1 record, a 2.97 ERA, and 27 strikeouts in seven games (six starts).[8] On May 7, 2008, Perkins was called up to replace injured teammate Scott Baker.[9] He started his first major league game against the Boston Red Sox on May 10, 2008, allowing three earned runs in six innings to record the loss.[10] He recorded his first major league win in a home start against the Texas Rangers on May 20, 2008.[11]
On May 25, 2008, Perkins pitched arguably his best MLB performance. Starting in a road game against the Detroit Tigers, Perkins recorded the win by pitching 7+2⁄3 innings while surrendering seven hits, one earned, two walks, and four strikeouts.[12]
Through June 30, Perkins started in all 11 of his appearances with the Twins. He had pitched 64+2⁄3 innings, posting a 4–2 record, 4.31 ERA, and 38 strikeouts.[13]
On July 18, 2008, Perkins went six innings combined with three relievers on a three-hit shutout of the Texas Rangers.[14] It was the first time that season that the game's highest-scoring offense had been shut out.[14] Perkins finished the 2008 season with a 12–4 record and a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts.[5]
2009 season
Perkins appeared in 18 games (17 starts) with the Twins in 2009, going 6–7 with a 5.89 ERA.[5]
2010 season
Perkins began 2010 with Triple-A Rochester. Through August, he was 4–9 with a 6.08 ERA in 23 starts the Red Wings, though he showed enough improvement to earn a call-up from the Twins on August 9.[15] Perkins appeared in four games (one start), going 0–1 with a 9.00 ERA before being optioned back to Rochester on August 28 to make room for newly acquired pitcher Brian Fuentes.[16] Perkins returned to the majors in September after rosters expanded.[17] He finished the season 1–1 with a 5.82 ERA in 13 games (one start).[5]
2011 season
Perkins played the whole season as relief pitcher, finishing 4–4 with two saves and a 2.48 ERA in 65 relief appearances.[5] Perkins won the Twins Pitcher of the Year Award and Twins Comeback Player of the Year Award after the breakout season.
On March 8, 2012, Perkins signed a three-year, $10.3 million extension with the Twins.[18] Perkins was guaranteed $2.5 million in 2013, and $3.75 million in both 2014 and 2015. There was a 2016 option for $4.5 million with a $300,000 buyout.[19]
2012 season
Perkins became the Twins closer in July 2012 after an injury to his predecessor Matt Capps.[20] He went on to finish the season 3–1 with 16 saves and a 2.56 ERA in 70 relief appearances.[5]
2013 season
Perkins was named to the American LeagueAll-Star team as an injury replacement.[21] Despite the Twins' mediocre season, Perkins was 2–0 with 36 saves and a 2.30 ERA in 61 games.[5]
2014 season
On March 14, 2014, Perkins agreed to a four-year extension with the Twins worth a guaranteed $22.1 million.[22] In July, he was named to his second All-Star game, where he was credited with the save for the American League in their 5–3 victory.[23] He finished the season 4–3 with 34 saves and a 3.65 ERA in 63 relief appearances.[5]
2015 season
Perkins was an All-Star for the third straight year in 2015.[24] He appeared in 60 games, going 3–5 with 32 saves and a 3.32 ERA, along with 54 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched.[5]
2016 season
After experiencing shoulder soreness at the beginning of the 2016 season, Perkins was placed on the DL after two appearances.[5][25] On June 16, it was revealed Perkins would need season-ending surgery due to a torn labrum and damage to his rotator cuff.[26]
2017 season
After another injury-shortened season, Perkins' 2018 option was declined by the Twins with the expectation that the team would buy out his contract.[27] He announced his retirement on January 23, 2018.[28]
Pitching style
Perkins threw three pitches: a four-seam fastball (95–97mph), a two-seam fastball (93–96), and a slider (83–86). There is little variation in his pitch usage against right-handed and left-handed hitters.[29] His velocity and effectiveness started to increase at the beginning of the 2011 season, coinciding with a move to the bullpen: "Going to the bullpen allowed me to get healthy. As a starter, I had just worn down."[30] In 2009, as a starter, Perkins posted a 5.89 ERA and an average fastball speed of about 90mph. His ERA dropped considerably in the bullpen (2.48 in 2011), and his strikeout rate nearly doubled.[5] When Perkins was a starter, he also threw a curveball and changeup.
Perkins's four-seamer has become a weapon, averaging almost 96mph in 2011 and 2012. It also has a very high (for a fastball) whiff rate of 29% in 2012.[29]
On August 1, 2018, Perkins served as analyst for the Facebook Live broadcasting crew working the Indians-Twins game. In 2019, Perkins began serving as a pre-game and post-game analyst for Twins telecasts on Fox Sports North, which later rebranded as Bally Sports North.
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