Glen Perkins
A hometown kid who lived the dream, evolving from a hard-throwing starter to a dominant All-Star closer for the only team he ever loved, the Minnesota Twins.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 2·Millennials
Biography
Glen Perkins's story is one of Minnesota through and through. A star at the University of Minnesota, he was drafted by his hometown Twins in the first round of 2004. He broke into the majors as a starter, showing flashes of potential but struggling to find a consistent role. The transformation came when the Twins moved him to the bullpen. With a simplified arsenal and a newfound aggressive mentality, Perkins found his calling. He developed into one of the American League's most reliable late-inning forces, earning three consecutive All-Star selections from 2013 to 2015 as the team's closer. His sweeping slider became a signature wipeout pitch. Injuries eventually curtailed his effectiveness, but his loyalty never wavered; he spent all 12 of his MLB seasons in a Twins uniform. Upon retirement, he seamlessly transitioned to the broadcast booth, providing analysis for the very team he once anchored on the mound.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Glen was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Glen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Glen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an American League All-Star three consecutive times (2013, 2014, 2015).
- Recorded 120 saves over his career, all for the Minnesota Twins, including a 36-save season in 2013.
- Pitched his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for his home-state team, the Minnesota Twins.
Did You Know?
He was a three-sport star in high school in Stillwater, Minnesota, also playing hockey and golf.
He and his wife, Alisha, are both graduates of the University of Minnesota.
He signed a contract extension with the Twins in 2014 that was notably team-friendly, stating he wanted to stay home.
“I found my best self when I stopped trying to be a starter and became a closer.”
