Dobnak to be promoted to Twins

[Seth Stohs]

I say it all the time... it's fun for me to see top picks and top prospects work their way up the ladder... but it is a ton of fun to see the low draft picks get a shot... 

 

Randy Dobnak wasn't drafted, but he signed two years ago (ok, two years and one week)... Per several reports (and I have been able to confirm)... today he heard he is being called up to the big leagues. What a great story!

 

Get to know a little more about him in this interview (starting at minute 23... it's about 17 minutes... some good stuff). 

 

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/minnesotasportsweekly/2018/03/06/seths-twins-on-deck-podcast-episode-9

 

[jz7233]

I predicted right! He has fairly good numbers in AAA and is a starter who could go multiple innings. He reminds me of Smeltzer.

[Mike Sixel]

Congrats! Wow

[Otto von Ballpark]

Dobnak up? Who's leaving?

Almost certainly Stewart.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This would put the Twins 40-man roster at exactly 40 again. Hasn't been that way for awhile!

 

If they need to add Graterol eventually, I'd guess Diplan would get the boot. Eades would be another candidate. And Astudillo could go to the 60-day DL at any time now.

[Riverbrian]

Cool

 

Run him up the flagpole. We need a flag or two. 

[ashbury]

He looked great last Friday. So he arrives with the coveted Ashbury Seal Of Approval. Quality Assured.

 

[Squirrel]

Wow! Very cool!

[John Kelsey]

Started the year in A ball, what a ride. 

 

Best of luck to him and his fantastic mustache. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Dobnak up? Who's leaving? 

 

Stewart was optioned right after the game.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Stewart was optioned right after the game.

I'm not even sure they waited that long. Falvey and Levine probably sprinted to make the move before Acuña's HR even landed in the 8th.

[gunnarthor]

Really impressed with all the darts the FO is throwing against the wall. Not like bullpen was an area of concern. Let's see what a 24 year old with 100 innings above A-ball pitch for a team in the pennant race. Anything to not add payroll.

[DocBauer]

Just answered my own question. Stewart down, Dobnak up. Still would like to see Perez to IL, Romero up.

 

I am ashamed to admit this as I follow the Twins and TD as if they were a second religion...tongue in cheek...but I somehow missed Stewart coming up recently.

[DocBauer]

Agree with Seth that these kind of stories are just fun!

 

Not going to bore anyone with a long list of stats. Anyone can look that stuff up. But 24yo until next January. Signed as a undrafted FA, he appeared in 6G, 5 in Elizabethton and 1 at CR. He spent 2018 at CR with 24G. In 2019 he advanced to FTM for only 4G, was promoted to AA for 11G, and then moved to AAA for 7G.

 

Just his combined career numbers, no matter how brief that career thus far:

 

23-8/ 2.57 ERA/ .241 BA/ 1.10 WHIP/ 287.1 IP/ 261 H/ 56 BB/ 209 SO

 

Unexpected and crazy! TOP prospects don't advance this quickly. What a great story! Wish him all the best!

[yarnivek1972]

Agree with Seth that these kind of stories are just fun!

 

Not going to bore anyone with a long list of stats. Anyone can look that stuff up. But 24yo until next January. Signed as a undrafted FA, he appeared in 6G, 5 in Elizabethton and 1 at CR. He spent 2018 at CR with 24G. In 2019 he advanced to FTM for only 4G, was promoted to AA for 11G, and then moved to AAA for 7G.

 

Just his combined career numbers, no matter how brief that career thus far:

 

23-8/ 2.57 ERA/ .241 BA/ 1.10 WHIP/ 287.1 IP/ 261 H/ 56 BB/ 209 SO

 

Unexpected and crazy! TOP prospects don't advance this quickly. What a great story! Wish him all the best!

That’s a very low K rate in this era. I suppose he might get by with whatever he is using to fool hitters for a little while at the MLB level.

[DocBauer]

That’s a very low K rate in this era. I suppose he might get by with whatever he is using to fool hitters for a little while at the MLB level.

Agreed. I don't feel there are any illusions he is a potential front line starter or back end pen arm. But you also can't dismiss the art of pitching. Who knows what his future may hold. But to skyrocket through milb the way be bas would lead one to believe he does have a feel for that art.

 

No matter what...and we know that at this time he's up for an UP opportunity...its a hell of a story/accomplishment.

[Rosterman]

I like the Twins getting a looksee at all this new blood: Thorpe, Dobnak, Poppen, Stashak. With Littell in the bullpen, and Stewart showing good signs. Well, it is a far cry from #6-10+ that the Twins opened the season with for their rotation: Mejia, Gonsalves, Stewart, DeJong, Littell, Slegers and possibly Romero. 

 

Definitely auditioning arms for possible fulltime duty in 2020. 

 

Shows how the life of a prospect can change.

 

 

 

All new names for TOP starter prospects.

 

Who will NOT be ehre in 2020 is now the BIG question!

[darin617]

What a great story about how he went from being undrafted and now promoted to the majors. Go back and look at the 2017 draft and there's really not that many 1st round picks already in the majors ahead of him.

[jz7233]

Dobnak could be a part of next year's rotation if he performs well in the major league now. Graterol, Balazovic, Smeltzer, Thorpe, Dobnak and Jax all have a chance to be in next year's rotation. For now there are 4 open spots.

 

[Battle ur tail off]

Let’s pump the breaks a bit about this guy being in the rotation next year. His stats show almost a hit an inning. My guess marginal stuff at best and gets shelled up here but we will see.

[nater79a]

There seems to be some similarity between Smeltzer and Dobnak. 

Just can't put my finger on it...

 

 

[Jham]

Really impressed with all the darts the FO is throwing against the wall. Not like bullpen was an area of concern. Let's see what a 24 year old with 100 innings above A-ball pitch for a team in the pennant race. Anything to not add payroll.

I don't think this is dart throwing. It's a smart way of using a rotating long instead of a traditional rubber arm. A traditional long man might not be available for days after an appearance, giving rise to the chance of having to wipe out your bullpen the next day in a blow out loss (or sometimes a blow out win). Molitor frequently did this. Granted, our team is better this year, but I can't remember having to use a position player this year and we've survived a couple marathon pen efforts. I like the strategy for the last spot in the pen. I can't say the same about the top spots.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

There seems to be some similarity between Smeltzer and Dobnak.

Just can't put my finger on it...

 

The hat?

[jimbo92107]

I can't wait to see Dobnak pitch in the show. What's he got that is so special? Will it translate to the highest level of human endeavor, the American Central Division of Major League Baseball?

[yarnivek1972]

I don't think this is dart throwing. It's a smart way of using a rotating long instead of a traditional rubber arm. A traditional long man might not be available for days after an appearance, giving rise to the chance of having to wipe out your bullpen the next day in a blow out loss (or sometimes a blow out win). Molitor frequently did this. Granted, our team is better this year, but I can't remember having to use a position player this year and we've survived a couple marathon pen efforts. I like the strategy for the last spot in the pen. I can't say the same about the top spots.

Adrianza pitched on July 17 against the Mets.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN201907170.shtml

[Platoon]

He looked great last Friday. So he arrives with the coveted Ashbury Seal Of Approval. Quality Assured.

 

I assume no baby seals were harmed during this post? (I had a better comment, but even I didn't like posting it)

[Tomj14]

 

Dobnak could be a part of next year's rotation if he performs well in the major league now. Graterol, Balazovic, Smeltzer, Thorpe, Dobnak and Jax all have a chance to be in next year's rotation. For now there are 4 open spots.

I imagine all of them will pitch a game or a few games in the majors next year. But if they are fighting for anything other than the 5th starter spot next year in spring training, something will have gone terribly wrong in the off season, and the anger alone from this site might bring the internet down.

[Riverbrian]

 

They got to work with what they have to work with. When you release 4 out of the bullpen in July and only trade for 2. You have announced to everyone that you have to work with what you have to work with. 

 

[yarnivek1972]

I like the Twins getting a looksee at all this new blood: Thorpe, Dobnak, Poppen, Stashak. With Littell in the bullpen, and Stewart showing good signs. Well, it is a far cry from #6-10+ that the Twins opened the season with for their rotation: Mejia, Gonsalves, Stewart, DeJong, Littell, Slegers and possibly Romero.

 

Definitely auditioning arms for possible fulltime duty in 2020.

 

Shows how the life of a prospect can change.

 

 

 

All new names for TOP starter prospects.

 

Who will NOT be ehre in 2020 is now the BIG question!

What signs are those? His 5.55 FIP or his 2.8 per 9 K rate?

 

 

Also, it would have been nice to try some guys out last year, when the team was below .500. Jake Reed for example. He’s fallen off this year but last year a little before this date, this same FO made the inexcusable decision to continue to roster Matt Belisle instead of giving Reed 8 weeks at the MLB level.

[rdehring]

I remain hopeful that we will catch lightening in a glass and one of our minor league kids will come up and become 'our Kluber.'  The question I ask today, will it be Dobnak?