Randy Dobnak's improbable big league journey began at an NCAA Division II baseball program, took him through an obscure independent league in the exurbs of Detroit, famously involved a 4.99 star rating as an Uber driver and culminated with a meteoric rise from Class A Advanced to a big league playoff start in 2019.
Now, the next step in Dobnak's story is a seven-figure contract.
Dobnak and the Twins have agreed to a five-year extension worth a guaranteed $9.25 million with club options for the 2026, '27 and '28 seasons, sources confirmed to MLB.com. The guarantee includes a $1 million buyout of his first option, and if all three options are exercised, he could earn up to $29.75 million, with the possibility for escalators and up to an additional $1.8 million in each option year through innings pitched thresholds, according to a source.
The club has not confirmed the deal, which is pending completion of a physical. It was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.
"Randy's made a lot happen in a very short period of time," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "And every way you look at it, he's set up to continue to have success at the Major League level. It's incredible, and it's kind of beautiful at the same time. And I don't think it's going anywhere in any fashion. This guy has Major League-caliber stuff."
Dobnak was named to the Twins' Opening Day roster on Thursday following a nearly unblemished spring in which he rode an improved slider to 18 strikeouts, no walks and only one earned run allowed in 13 2/3 innings.
The Twins clearly believe in Dobnak's performance and improvement enough to guarantee his place in their Major League plans for the next five seasons. The Minnesota rotation could see a considerable amount of turnover in the next few seasons, but Dobnak should offer some stability in that time alongside Kenta Maeda, who is under contract through 2023.
The 26-year-old Dobnak owns a career 3.12 ERA in 19 big league appearances across two seasons, including 15 starts. He's set to begin the 2021 season in the bullpen, but he should be Minnesota's next man up to fill a rotation slot, as he did last season, when he made 10 starts and posted a 4.05 ERA. The Twins have particularly valued his versatility in that time and his willingness to bounce between the bullpen and starting rotation as needed.
"He does it all and he does it with a smile, and he’s so low-maintenance of a human being," Baldelli said. "He just wants the ball and he just wants to pitch, and he’s willing and able to do pretty much anything to help us win games. We appreciate him very much."
Dobnak remains a throwback player in the modern game -- and that doesn't just have to do with his big mustache. In the era of high-spin four-seam fastballs and ever-increasing velocity, Dobnak pitches to contact with his heavy sinker, and he generated the highest ground-ball rate (62.1 percent) of any pitcher who threw at least 40 innings last season.
"With the stuff that he has and the ability to turn the ball over, sink the ball but also command his pitches very well, he's shown great feel for his offspeed stuff, his slider is ever-improving, and we consider it a weapon," Baldelli said. "And in a day where there's a lot of pitchers that pitch in a very similar fashion and the velos are through the roof and guys that have tremendous carry are all over the place everywhere you look, Randy does something different."
Much like his style of pitching, nothing about Dobnak's path as a Major Leaguer has been conventional. How many pitchers have had to leave the team in the middle of a pennant chase to get married because he'd scheduled the nuptials without even considering the possibility that he could have become a big leaguer?
He has made it work. And it's safe to say that this contract is worth a heck of a lot more than a collection of Uber fares.
Astudillo gives Bogaerts the evil eye
Be gentle with the turtle, please.
Willians Astudillo made his best "annoyed" face and jokingly reared back with his fist as if to take a swing at Xander Bogaerts after the Red Sox shortstop held a tag on Astudillo as he swayed in an off-balance effort to stay on the bag following his third-inning double in the Twins' 8-3 loss on Sunday at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Fla.
Astudillo tagged up to third on a fly ball and hustled home on a groundout with the Twins' first run -- and with his newest contribution to the internet secure as well.
"I heard we have a new Astudillo Twitter clip that's floating around," Baldelli said.
Up next
Mitch Garver (bruised left index finger) could return to the Twins' lineup when the club treks north to Bradenton for their penultimate game of Spring Training, a 12:05 p.m. CT matchup against the Pirates at LECOM Park. The other end of the battery could be just as exciting; right-hander Matt Canterino, the No. 8 prospect in the organization, will make his first spring start. Brandon Waddell, Derek Law and Caleb Thielbar -- the trio jostling for the final bullpen spot -- are all expected to pitch.