Randy Dobnak, the Minnesota Twins’ standout pitcher in 2019, emerged from nowhere to become a folk hero. He attended Alderson Broaddus University, a small college in Philippi, West Virginia, that had never produced a major league player before.
As an undrafted free agent, the Twins signed him in July of 2017 after seeing him play in the United Shore League, an independent circuit that is closer to a semi-pro league than a collegiate one.
A former major leaguer who still has connections in the game, Jim Essian, suggested him to the Twins, and that was his big break.
Between Elizabethton Twins and Cedar Rapids Kernels, he pitched six games. Since his undergraduate days, when he pitched at three different institutions, he’s always maintained an ERA below 3.00. (it was a still very good 3.16 the other year).
In 2018, he pitched a complete season in the Midwest League with Cedar Rapids, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 24 games, covering 129 innings, and issuing just 25 walks against 84 strikeouts while striking out 84.
However, he was still not regarded as potential and had to work as an Uber driver during the off-season to make ends meet.
The Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League gave him his major league debut, and he went on to have an impressive spring training, posting an ERA of just 0.40 in four starts, before going 4-2, 2.57 in 11 games with the Pensacola Blue Wahoo in the American Association, and then 5-2, 2.15 in nine games with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League.
How Old Is Randy Dobnak?
Randy Dobnak is 27 years old. He was born on January 17, 1995.