Randy Dobnak Has Beat the Odds...Twice

[Cody Christie]

Randy Dobnak’s baseball journey is a story of perseverance and a bit of serendipity, marked by unconventional turns and a remarkable rise from obscurity.

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Randy Dobnak was born in Pennsylvania and attended South Park High School. His high school career didn’t necessarily scream “future MLB player”—he wasn’t heavily recruited and went undrafted after graduating. Instead of taking a direct path to professional baseball, Dobnak took the road less traveled.

Dobnak attended Alderson Broaddus University, a small school in West Virginia. In four seasons, he posted a 2.61 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and a 284-to-79 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 272 1/3 innings. His college career was solid but being at a small school made it even less likely that he’d be on the radar of major league scouts. He wasn’t selected in the MLB Draft, and some players would likely hang up their cleats and find a job outside the sports world. 

In 2017, Dobnak signed with the Frontier League’s Schaumburg Boomers, a low-level independent league team. He was working part-time jobs to support himself including his famous days as an Uber driver. His dedication and strong performances on the mound did not go unnoticed, though. The Minnesota Twins signed him to a minor league contract after he allowed nine earned runs in 35 innings (2.31 ERA). 

Dobnak’s performance in the minors was impressive. He quickly ascended through the Twins’ minor league system, showcasing an effective blend of control, grit, and a unique demeanor on the mound. He pitched the entire 2018 season in Cedar Rapids where he posted a 3.14 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. Dobnak’s 2019 season seemed like a fictional story. He began the year at High-A and finished the season starting a playoff game for the Twins at Yankee Stadium. It was a meteoric rise for the former independent league signee. It was the first of his unlikely trips to the big leagues. 

He pitched admirably in his first two seasons in the big leagues with a 3.12 ERA in 19 career appearances, including 15 starts. Entering the 2021 season, the Twins signed Dobnak to a unique contract extension to buyout his arbitration eligible years and give Minnesota more years of team control. In March 2021, Dobnak agreed to a five-year, $9.25 million contract extension with three club options. The deal had a chance to max out at $29.75 million with the options having escalators associated with them. 

This contract was seen as an investment in Dobnak's potential, reflecting the Twins' belief in his future contributions. It also provided Dobnak with financial security and an opportunity to prove himself over several seasons. The structure of the deal was relatively rare for a player with Dobnak's experience level at the time, making it a noteworthy example of how teams and players can negotiate creative contract terms. However, since signing that deal, health has greatly impacted Dobnak’s performance to the point where he likely didn’t know if he’d be back at the big-league level. 

Dobnak has had issues with a finger injury in recent seasons. Specifically, he’s dealt with a right middle finger injury that has significantly impacted his performance and availability. He’s had multiple surgeries and been forced to reinvent himself as a pitcher with a new pitch mix. This injury, which affected his grip and control on the mound, led to a series of struggles with both pitching effectiveness and staying healthy.

The injury first became a notable issue during the 2021 season and has persisted, affecting his ability to contribute consistently. Finger injuries for pitchers are particularly challenging because they can influence grip, control, and overall pitching mechanics. For Dobnak, this has meant that he’s had to navigate a series of rehab stints and adjustments, which have unfortunately hampered his ability to return to his previous form.

Dobnak likely thought he’d be relegated to a Triple-A role for the remainder of his professional career. He settled into the Saints rotation this season, but his performance made it tough for the Twins to ignore him. In his last 15 Triple-A appearances, he posted a 2.80 ERA while holding batters to a .371 SLG in 74 innings. These totals are even more impressive considering the high offensive environment in the International League. Minnesota needed pitching depth and Dobnak was the next man up on the organization’s depth chart. 

Dobnak hasn’t found success around every corner, embodying the narrative of hard work paying off against the odds. His story resonates as an inspiring example of how determination, combined with a bit of luck and opportunity, can lead to achieving dreams that seemed out of reach. Dobnak’s journey from the independent leagues to the big leagues exemplifies how unconventional routes can lead to success in the world of sports, proving that talent, resilience, and a bit of serendipity can pave the way to inspiring stories. 

Which big league trip has been more unexpected? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

View full article

[DaveW44]

It’s nice he found some AAA success but it’s time for the major league Dobnak experiment to be over. Send him to AAA and find someone who might have some interest in him this winter. 

[Blyleven2011]

I wish dobnak well , he has persevered the odds , but 1 more bad outing , ( dfa )  should put him back in AAA  , nobody will claim him ...

Sad but true ...

[DJL44]

Every morning the sun rises and Twins Daily posts another article about Randy Dobnak.

[mikelink45]

So long Randy, been good to know you, but we've got to be moving along. 

[bighat]

Hard not to cheer for Randy Dobnak - he's never had to worry about being likeable or being a fan-favorite. 

But at some point, no matter how interesting or heartwarming your story is, you're going to have to deliver consistent big-league results. 

At this point, Twins fans want to see Randy pitch 6 scoreless innings as a starter or pitch 12-13 consecutive scoreless innings from the 'pen. Whether or not he has the ability to do so is the question.

[dberthia]

He makes for a good story, but he's not a major league calibre pitcher.

[CRF]

Nice story and I wish him well, but he's not major league caliber...I don't know if he ever was. I don't know if he's even AAA caliber. Give him his release and see if he can latch on somewhere else. He's low level  organizational depth at best. 

[mhanson93]

I still will never understand how a 101 win team (2019) ended up rolling out Dobnak in game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.  It was a criminal mismanagement of the pitching rotation that should've NEVER happened.  Nice story that he made the team, but he should've never been thrown to the wolves like that.  And yes, it's past time to move on from him.

[LyleCole]

One suggestion I would have for the Twins is Trevor Bauer.   He is pitching in Mexico and seems to still have his stuff from video I have seen and the statistics, including a 19 strikeout game.

I don't know what his contract situation is in Mexico, but bring him in on a AAA contract.

[jud6312]

1 hour ago, LyleCole said:

One suggestion I would have for the Twins is Trevor Bauer.   He is pitching in Mexico and seems to still have his stuff from video I have seen and the statistics, including a 19 strikeout game.

I don't know what his contract situation is in Mexico, but bring him in on a AAA contract.

Any team could sign him at any time, but based on his antics, both on-field and in the clubhouse, I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

The fact that he's been unpopular with teammates and coaches going back to his UCLA days would be bad enough, but you combine that with the media/PR nightmare that would follow him based on the allegations that have been levied against him (I know "no charges"), and the juice is 100% not worth the squeeze.

[jud6312]

I'll pay for Randy's Uber from Minneapolis to St. Paul if that's what's holding things up.

[dxpavelka]

9 hours ago, LyleCole said:

One suggestion I would have for the Twins is Trevor Bauer.   He is pitching in Mexico and seems to still have his stuff from video I have seen and the statistics, including a 19 strikeout game.

I don't know what his contract situation is in Mexico, but bring him in on a AAA contract.

Not sure i'm in on Trevor Bauer's "stuff"

[dxpavelka]

I have one unanswered question:  Has anyone ever gone from un-drafted college grad to the big leagues quicker than Dobnak?  I've been asking this question for 5 years.  Nobody seems to know.  I've even tried the Elias Sports Bureau. Nothing.

[DJL44]

8 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

I have one unanswered question:  Has anyone ever gone from un-drafted college grad to the big leagues quicker than Dobnak?  I've been asking this question for 5 years.  Nobody seems to know.  I've even tried the Elias Sports Bureau. Nothing.

The 25 Best Undrafted MLB Free Agents Of All Time (baseballamerica.com)

I don't have a Baseball America subscription but this is a good place to start.

[Linus]

I’m glad Randy got some of the Pohlads money as he seems like a great guy. He is not the answer to any of the Twins pitching questions however. 

[dxpavelka]

14 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The 25 Best Undrafted MLB Free Agents Of All Time (baseballamerica.com)

I don't have a Baseball America subscription but this is a good place to start.

Thanks,