Randy Dobnak

Randy Dobnak
Dobnak with the St. Paul Saints in 2021
Seattle Mariners
Pitcher
Born: (1995-01-17) January 17, 1995
South Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 9, 2019, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Win–loss record9–12
Earned run average4.86
Strikeouts85
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Randy Travis William Dobnak (born January 17, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut for the Minnesota Twins in 2019.

Career

Amateur

Dobnak attended South Park High School in South Park Township, Pennsylvania.[1] Dobnak attended Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, West Virginia, where he played college baseball in NCAA Division II for the Battlers.[2]

Utica Unicorns

Dobnak went undrafted out of college in 2017 and played for the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore Professional Baseball League.[3] Dobnak had previously caught the attention of Utica manager Jim Essian when Dobnak played with Essian's son as a freshman and sophomore at Alderson Broaddus.[4] Dobnak had a 3–0 record and 2.31 ERA in 6 appearances with Utica.

Minnesota Twins

On August 1, 2017, Dobnak signed a minor league contract, receiving a signing bonus of $500, with the Minnesota Twins[5] off the strength of YouTube videos of his outings; the Twins never scouted him in person.[6] He played for the Elizabethton Twins and the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2017, combining to go 2–0 with a 2.43 ERA in 33 innings.[7]

In 2018, Dobnak returned to Cedar Rapids, going 10–5 with a 3.14 ERA in 129 innings.[7]

In 2019, Dobnak began the season with the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, then advanced to the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.[8] With those three teams in 2019, he compiled an overall 12–4 record with 2.07 ERA in 24 games (21 starts), while striking out 109 batters in 135 innings.[9] On August 8, the Twins selected Dobnak's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[10][11] He made his debut on August 9, pitching four scoreless innings in relief.[12] With the 2019 Twins, Dobnak was 2–1 with one save and a 1.59 ERA in nine appearances (five starts), while striking out 23 in 28+1⁄3 innings.[7] He was included on the Twins' postseason roster and started Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.[13]

With the 2020 Minnesota Twins, Dobnak appeared in 10 games, with a 6–4 record, 4.05 ERA, and 27 strikeouts in 46+2⁄3 innings pitched.[14]

On March 28, 2021, Dobnak and the Twins agreed to a five-year, $9.25 million extension that included three club option years with escalators that could have increased the total payout to $29.75 million.[15] On July 17, Dobnak was placed on the 60-day injured list with a finger strain.[16] On September 1, Dobnak was activated off of the injured list.

On March 21, 2022, Dobnak was placed on the 60-day injured list with discomfort in his right middle finger, the same finger in which he had suffered a strain in the year before.[17] On September 14, the Twins placed Dobnak on outright waivers, and he was sent to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.

Dobnak spent the 2023 season with Triple-A St. Paul.[18] He appeared in 31 games (26 starts), with a 5–9 record, 5.13 ERA, and 115 strikeouts in 126+1⁄3 innings pitched.

On February 14, 2024, Dobnak joined the Twins in spring training as a non-roster invitee.[19] In 21 games (19 starts) for St. Paul, he recorded a 9–5 record and 3.61 ERA with 102 strikeouts across 99+2⁄3 innings pitched. On July 30, the Twins selected Dobnak's contract, adding him to their active roster.[20] In 4 games for the Twins, he compiled a 5.87 ERA with 7 strikeouts over 7+2⁄3 innings pitched. Dobnak was designated for assignment by Minnesota on September 16.[21] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to St. Paul on September 18.[22] On September 29, the Twins selected Dobnak's contract, adding him back to their active roster.[23] On November 4, he was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to St. Paul.[24]

On March 30, 2025, Dobnak pitched 5+1⁄3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing only one run one two hits. Despite the performance, he was designated for assignment the next day following the promotion of Darren McCaughan.[25] Dobnak cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A St. Paul on April 2.[26]

Detroit Tigers

On July 28, 2025, the Twins traded Dobnak and Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Enrique Jiménez.[27][28] Dobnak made nine appearances (eight starts) for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, posting a 1–1 record and 3.79 ERA with 35 strikeouts over 38 innings of work. Dobnak's 2026 option was declined by the Tigers on November 4, and he became a free agent.[29]

Seattle Mariners

On November 11, 2025, Dobnak signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners that included an invitation to spring training.[30]

Legacy

Dobnak is regarded as one of the greatest players in USPBL history.[31] Out of a total of 52 USPBL alumni who have signed with MLB organizations, Dobnak is one of seven players to have reached the major leagues.[32] Dobnak's signing by longtime Twins scout Billy Milos marked a shift in the way the organization approached scouting independent baseball league players. Milos never watched Dobnak pitch in person at the time of his signing, solely watching YouTube videos filmed by Dobnak's father.[33]

Personal life

According to his LinkedIn profile, Dobnak began driving for Uber and Lyft in October 2017 — and he's an excellent driver with a "4.99/5 Uber driver rating," his Twitter profile reads. "I have all five star [reviews] except for one," Dobnak told MLB.com in August 2019. "I have one four-star. I'm hoping it was a mistake. I don't remember doing anything bad."[34]

Dobnak and his wife were married on September 28, 2019, in Maryland.[35] When Twins fans began sharing the link to their online wedding registry, the couple directed fans to instead donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, raising over $4,000 for the hospital.[36]

Dobnak grew up as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, attending Opening Day annually and estimates having gone to over 150 games at PNC Park.[37] He pitched at PNC Park for the first time on August 5, 2020, where he pitched 6 shutout innings and earned the victory in a 5–2 Twins win.[38]

Dobnak is a lifelong fan and player of the fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) RuneScape.[39]

References

  1. ^ Bendel, Joe (July 31, 2019). "South Park's Randy Dobnak enjoying Cinderella ride with Minnesota Twins". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "Former Alderson Broaddus Pitcher Dobnak to Be Promoted to Twins". WDTV. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Hooke, Jonathan (June 29, 2017). "Dobnak Signs Contract to Play With Utica in the USPBL". gobattlers.com. Alderson Broaddus Battlers. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "Down on the Farm – Q&A With Randy Dobnak (Alderson Broaddus)". greatmidwestsports.com. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Hooke, Jonathan (July 27, 2017). "Dobnak Inks Contract With Minnesota Twins Organization; Assigned to Elizabethton". gobattlers.com. Alderson Broaddus Battlers. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  6. ^ Braziller, Zach (October 5, 2019). "Uber driver Randy Dobnak suddenly in Twins-Yankees spotlight". New York Post. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "Randy Dobnak Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. ^ Depue, Jake (July 4, 2019). "Two years after going undrafted, Twins prospect Randy Dobnak is impressing in the minors". SKOR North. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  9. ^ "Randy Dobnak Stats, Highlights, Bio". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  10. ^ Wetmore, Derek (August 7, 2019). "Randy Dobnak the next Twins pitcher to get call to the big leagues". SKOR North. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Reusse, Patrick (August 5, 2019). "Twins have a Smeltzer and might soon have a Dobnak to counter Cleveland". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Park, Do-Hyoung (August 9, 2019). "Bomba Squad sets Twins' season HR mark". MLB.com. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  13. ^ "Yankees ruins postseason debut for South Park product Randy Dobnak". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Associated Press. October 5, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "Randy Dobnak Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  15. ^ "Twins To Sign Randy Dobnak To Five-Year Extension". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Twins Place Derek Law On 10-Day Injured List, Move Randy Dobnak To 60-Day Injured List". mlbtraderumors.com.
  17. ^ "Twins' Randy Dobnak: Lands on 60-day injured list". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "Twins Minor League Report (9/14): Randy Dobnak Breaks Saints' Single-Season Strikeout Record". Twins Daily. September 15, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  19. ^ "Twins pitcher Randy Dobnak seeks to salvage career after freak finger injuries". Star Tribune.
  20. ^ "After almost three years, Randy Dobnak will return to the Twins; reliever Trevor Richards acquired from Toronto". startribune.com. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Adams, Steve (September 16, 2024). "Twins Claim Cole Irvin Off Waivers From Orioles". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  22. ^ "Twins Outright Randy Dobnak". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  23. ^ "Twins Select Randy Dobnak". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  24. ^ "Twins Outright Five Players". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  25. ^ "Twins Select Darren McCaughan". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  26. ^ "Twins Outright Randy Dobnak". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  27. ^ Murphy, Brian (July 28, 2025). "Tigers get Paddack, Dobnak in trade with Twins; Olson (shoulder) out for year". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  28. ^ Gonzalez, Alden (July 28, 2025). "Tigers acquire pitcher Chris Paddack in trade with Twins". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  29. ^ Adams, Steve (November 4, 2025). "Tigers Decline Club Option On Randy Dobnak". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  30. ^ "Mariners, Randy Dobnak Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  31. ^ "Randy Dobnak Called up to Minnesota Twins". USPBL. August 7, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  32. ^ "Players Signed by MLB Organizations". Uspbl.com. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  33. ^ Hayes, Dan (February 27, 2020). "Randy Dobnak's new drive: Twins' 2019 surprise has a big task ahead in 2020". The Athletic. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  34. ^ Elkins, Kathleen (September 5, 2019). "MLB pitcher Randy Dobnak, who was just called up to the majors, has been driving for Uber and Lyft for 2 years". CNBC. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  35. ^ Sinker, Howard (September 29, 2019). "Return of the champagne goggles: Randy Dobnak's wedding odyssey". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  36. ^ Park, Do-Hyoung (December 24, 2019). "Wedding registry connects Dobnaks to St. Jude". MLB.com. Minneapolis. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  37. ^ Mackey, Jason (August 4, 2020). "Randy Dobnak's incredible journey will make stop at PNC Park". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  38. ^ "Twins vs. Pirates - Game Recap - August 5, 2020". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  39. ^ "A Budding Chicago Rivalry, Pitcher Debuts Galore, and the Padres Are on Fire. Plus: Randy Dobnak!". Baseball BBQ (Podcast). The Ringer. August 24, 2020. Event occurs at 43:25. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
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