MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Glen Perkins has finally returned to the Minnesota Twins, with the bonus of a playoff race and a bullpen in need of some help.
He’s not the hard-throwing three-time All-Star closer he once was. He’s just grateful for another chance to be on a major league mound after missing more than 16 months because of shoulder trouble.
“I did everything I could to hold up my end of the bargain and try to make it as quick as I could, and they’ve held up their end of the bargain,” Perkins said. “They’re going to give me a chance to pitch, and that’s all I really wanted out of this whole thing.”
Perkins was reinstated from the disabled list Thursday before Minnesota’s doubleheader against Cleveland, with all arms needed on deck against the division-leading Indians. Perkins last pitched for the Twins on April 10, 2016, before being shelved and eventually having surgery to repair a torn labrum on June 23, 2016.
“I had my doubts, but it wasn’t like I was going to give up. That wasn’t an option,” Perkins said. “I would’ve just kept rehabbing until my contract ran out I guess, if that was the alternative. I at least owed that to them, to give them everything I’ve got.”