Lefty has right stuff

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

JUPITER, FLA. -- The question gave lefthander Glen Perkins more problems than most of the hitters he's faced this season.

Has he faced any real adversity since turning pro?

"Knock on wood, not really," Perkins said. "Ever since pro ball, I haven't given up more than two runs in a start. I think I've made 16 starts, and I've been pretty lucky."

In less than a year, Perkins has gone from being an ace for the Gophers to being one of the better prospects in the Twins' farm system.

In four 2005 starts through the weekend for the Class A Fort Myers Miracle, Perkins is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA. Opponents are batting .231 against him, and he has three walks and 20 strikeouts in 16 innings. And his season was delayed about two weeks because of a sprained wrist. Factor in the 12 starts he made last season after he signed a $1.425 million bonus with the club, and Perkins is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA in 16 professional games.

Perkins shares an apartment in Fort Myers with fellow pitching prospect Matt Fox, living the dream he's had since watching current Twins Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones and Brad Radke as a youth in the Twin Cities.

"I like it because I don't have other things to worry about," said Perkins, who attended Stillwater High School, of his transition to pro ball. "I get up in the morning and go to the park. I don't have to worry about homework, don't have to worry about study groups, none of that. I prepared myself for pro ball when I was in college. That's what I wanted to do."

The Twins have high hopes for their pitching class from the 2004 draft, which includes righthanders Fox, Kyle Waldrop, Jay Rainville, Anthony Sawarzak and lefthander Jay Sawatski. Perkins, selected with the 22nd overall pick, could be the first of the group to reach the majors. The lefty could earn a promotion to Class AA New Britain before the end of this season, which makes a 2006 major league debut possible. That's an ideal timeframe, but being lefthanded with a 90 miles-per-hour fastball and a changeup is a plus.

"I just want him to get some innings in and stay healthy," said Jim Rantz, the Twins' director of minor leagues. "I'm not looking to move anyone on a fast track, just for him to handle what he is doing. He will move up eventually, yeah."

A group of scouts behind home plate were impressed with Perkins during his May 9 start against Palm Beach. He consistently hit 90 mph on the radar gun and his changeup came in between 78 and 80 mph.

"I worked in my sessions between starts on slowing [my changeup] down a little bit," Perkins said. "It was like 80-82 [mph in previous starts]."

Perkins also throws a curveball, giving him three solid pitches. But Palm Beach hitters had the most trouble hitting his fastball, and his changeup improved as the game went along, said Rick Knapp, the Twins' minor league pitching coordinator.

The only drawback was that Perkins threw 56 pitches through three innings as he ran into a few full-count situations. But he retired the last eight batters he faced, including one on a nice sliding catch by outfielder Denard Span, the Twins' first-round pick in 2002.

Perkins' line for the evening: one run, three hits, no walks and eight strikeouts over five innings.

Eric Rasmussen, Fort Myers' pitching coach, said Perkins is on the right track in learning what it takes to be a professional.

"He's just like anyone," Rasmussen said. "It is a new deal, just getting the routine [down] and all the in-between starts work, it's probably a little different than what he had in college. He's getting by."

Perkins' immediate goal is to prove he deserves to move up.

"I sat down with Knapp and Joe Vavra [Twins minor league field coordinator] and we discussed some stuff," Perkins said. "Personally, I'd like to be out of here at some point during the season. So far, in the starts I've made I've shown that I can pitch at this level successfully. I think I'm ready for a challenge at the next level.

"I'm anxious but I'm not counting the days."