Minnesota Twins: Glen Perkins suffering from back spasms
There is a reason that Kevin Jepsen was called on to notch the save on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays and not Glen Perkins. According to the Pioneer Press, Perkins is now suffering from back spasms, a different injury than the bulging disc in his neck which knocked him out of play a handful of days ago.
Mike Berardino points out that this also kept Perkins out of a series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park last season.
The report says that the back issue popped up for Perkins when he was warming up in Baltimore, Perkins went in and pitched a solid 18-pitch inning, but the velocity on his pitches was down in the appearance.
Down in Tampa, Perkins went through a series of heat-and-ice treatments on Tuesday and more heat on Wednesday, but apparently it did not take much of an effect on Perkins’ ailing back.
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The Minnesota Twins will now go back to Kevin Jepsen being the closer while Perkins is out. Jepsen is three for three in saves opportunities with the Twins. Jepsen has eight total saves this season, the others coming with the Tampa Bay Rays before being dealt over to the Twins.
There is no timetable for the return of Perkins. Berardino got a quote from Manager Paul Molitor about Perkins’ potential return, “”I can’t tell you how long it’s going to be. With backs, you’re just not sure.”
Maybe the up and downs of Perkins will result in the Twins finally calling up Jose Berrios to help out in the bullpen, but until that happens Casey Fien, Trevor May and Jepsen will be the horses out of the pen.
Next: Buxton is going to be just fine!