SARASOTA, FLA. — Getting the chance to be a major league pitcher for your hometown team can be a joy ride. For Glen Perkins and Pat Neshek, it's been more like a roller coaster.
Both reached the big leagues in 2006, when the Twins thought highly enough of the two rookies to keep them on their playoff roster. Neshek became the Twins' top setup reliever to Joe Nathan, and Perkins went 12-4 as a starter in 2008.
It looked as if each would enjoy a long, successful career, but arm injuries derailed them both. Now, these two Minnesota kids are on the bubble, fighting for jobs on the Opening Day roster.
The Twins plan to keep seven relievers, and four of those spots have been set aside for Joe Nathan, Matt Capps, Jose Mijares and either Scott Baker or Kevin Slowey, depending on who becomes the No. 5 starter.
Neshek, a product of Park Center High School, and Perkins, a former Stillwater High School and Gophers pitcher, are among 10 pitchers still in camp competing for those other three spots.
Perkins, 28, is out of minor league options, so the Twins must either keep him on the roster or risk losing him on waivers.
"I don't want to back my way into a spot," said Perkins, who lowered his ERA to 2.25 this spring by pitching a perfect ninth inning, striking out two, in the Twins' 3-2 victory over Baltimore on Friday night. "Wherever I end up, it's for a reason. If I'm here or somewhere else, as long as I'm healthy and throwing well, that's all I'm really worried about."
Neshek, 30, had a 1.69 ERA in five appearances before giving up home runs against Ryan Raburn and Miguel Cabrera on Thursday against Detroit. That day, his fastball ranged from 86-89 miles per hour. According to FanGraphs.com, Neshek's fastball averaged 91 mph in 2006 and dropped to 89 mph in 2008, before the righthander had Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery.