Randy Travis William Dobnak (DOB-nack)...Twitter: @Dobnak_...Instagram: @dobnak_...wife Aerial...went undrafted out of Division II Alderson Broaddus University (WV) in 2017, joining the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore Professional Baseball League for six weeks prior to signing with the Twins on July 28, 2017...while pitching for Utica, he earned extra money as an Uber Driver with a rating of 4.99/5...had been driving Uber and Lyft since October of 2017...told MLB.com in 2019, "I have one four-star. I'm hoping it was a mistake. I don't remember doing anything bad"...also just prior to joining the big leagues, Dobnak worked as a consultant for Jordan Tax & Accounting Services in Bethel Park, PA (2017), an accounting clerk at Accountant and Associates in PA (2017), pizza delivery for Italian Village Pizza in South Park, PA (2012-13) and supermarket stocker at Foodland in Pittsburgh (2010-12)…participated in 2019-20 Twins Winter Caravan...he and his wife are very involved with St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, raising thousands since his arrival in the major leagues in 2019...the couple married in September of 2019... during one of Randy's starts leading up to the wedding, word of the couple's wedding registries went viral on social media in Twins Territory and fans purchased several items for the couple on their registry...immediately following this, the Dobnak's added an option to their registry: a direct link to donate funds to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, raising more than $4,000...that following January, they flew to Memphis to meet with patients and learn more about how to support the St. Jude mission...the couple is very passionate about the cause after Ariel Dobnak lost a friend to cancer during her freshman year at Alderson Broaddus University...during August/September of 2020, with help from Great Lakes Bat Co., the couple managed to raise $25,000 for St. Jude through t-shirt sales; the shirt has Randy's signature look with a silhouette image of his face with in-game glasses and fu manchu mustache...he and his wife bought their first home over 2020 Christmas in Falling Waters, WV...used warm-up song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver.
2020
Started season in Twins rotation with Jake Odorizzi on the 10-day Injured List (right intercostal strain)...Dobnak's first Opening Day roster of career...Made first start of season in club's second game July 25 at Chicago-AL, allowing one run on three hits in 4.0 innings pitched and was dealt the loss...Posted career-best 13.0-inning scoreless streak from July 25-August 10, the longest individual scoreless streak by a Twins pitcher in 2020...did not allow a home run in first four starts (20.0 innings) until a Hunter Dozier first-inning three-run shot August 16 at Kansas City...Allowed just one run in first three starts over a total of 15.0 innings pitched (0.60 ERA) July 25-August 5...Won a career-best five consecutive starts July 31-August 22, going 5-0, 1.71 ERA (26.1 IP, 5 ER) with five walks and 13 strikeouts during that span...marked longest win streak by a Twins rookie starter since Tyler Duffey won five-straight decisions from August 15-September 26, 2015...also marked the first time a Twins rookie starter won at least five-straight starts since Francisco Liriano won six starts in a row from June 11-July 8, 2006...tied with Marco Gonzales and Zach Davies for the second-longest streak in baseball, trailing Yu Darvish (7)…streak was snapped August 29 at Detroit, allowing career-highs in hits (12) and earned runs (6) over 4.1 innings pitched in a 8-2 loss...Went 1-3, 8.27 ERA (16.1 IP, 15 ER) with six walks and 11 strikeouts in a four-start stretch August 29-September 15...optioned to alternate training site in St. Paul September 16 (Odorizzi reinstated)…Allowed just three homers in 46.2 innings on the season.....has allowed just four longballs in 75.0 career innings, good for a 0.48 homers per-9.0 ratio, best in MLB since his debut on August 9, 2019 (min 75.0 IP)…Induced nine double plays on the season, tied for third most in the AL and tied for fifth most in MLB...induced three in back-to-back starts August 22-29, tying the Twins record (1961-present) for most consecutive starts with at least three GIDPs, shared by eight other pitcher; the last to turn the trick, other than Dobnak, was Mike Pelfrey from June 7-13, 2015. Ranked first among American League rookies in walks-per-9.0 IP (2.51), tied for first in wins (6) and sixth in innings pitched (46.2)…Was on Postseason roster for AL Wild Card Series with Houston but did not appear...Named Bill Boni Award winner for Twins Most Outstanding Rookie, an award voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA.
2019
Went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA with Single-A Cedar Rapids, amassing 129.0 IP, 138 hits, 45 earned runs and an 84/25 SO/BB ratio...finished the year third in the MWL in ERA among qualifying pitchers, tied for third in wins and 10th in innings pitched...Promoted to Double-A Pensacola on May 2 where he went 4-2, 2.57 ERA (66.2 IP, 19 ER) over 11 games (10 starts)...Made two stints with Triple-A Rochester, combining to go 4-1, 2.00 ERA (36.0 IP, 8 ER)...Earned Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 28 after making two starts with the Red Wings, going 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA (12.1 IP, 2 ER) with seven hits, a hit batsman, three walks and 10 strikeouts...Had contract selected by Minnesota August 8...Made major league debut August 9 vs. Cleveland, pitching 4.0 scoreless innings of relief...recorded first major league strikeout, fanning Roberto Pérez...Began career with 9.0 scoreless innings until allowing two runs in a start September 8 vs. Cleveland...Earned first major league win September 20 vs. Kansas City, allowing one run on three hits in 5.1 innings pitched...Pitched 6.0 with just one hit allowed September 25 at Detroit, becoming the second rookie in Twins/Senators franchise history to throw at least 6.0 innings while allowing no more than one batter to reach safely via hit, walk or hit-by-pitch...previous Twins pitcher was Camilo Pascual on September 14, 1954 at Cleveland...Minnesota's 5-1 win that night, paired with Cleveland's loss, allowed the Twins to clinch the AL Central division title...Left team following the game on Sept. 26 in Detroit to attend his wedding on September 28 in Maryland Line, MD...Started Game 2 of the ALDS October 5, 2019 at New York-AL, allowing four runs on six hits in 2.0 innings pitched...became the fourth rookie in Twins history (6th occurrence) to start a Postseason game, 18th to ever pitch in one...prior to Dobnak, the last Twins rookie to start in the Postseason was Brian Duensing in 2009 in Game 1 of the ALDS at New York-AL...the two other rookies to start in the Postseason for the Twins: Boof Bonser (Game 2, ALDS vs. OAK in 2006) and Les Straker (3 starts in 1987, 1 in ALCS at DET, 2 in WS at/vs. STL)...Earned Jim Rantz Award for Twins minor league Pitcher of the Year after combining to go 12-4, 2.07 ERA (135.0 IP, 31 ER) in 24 games (21 starts) across three levels...Named starting pitcher on Twins MiLB.com organization All-Star team.
2018
Went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA with Single-A Cedar Rapids, amassing 129.0 IP, 138 hits, 45 earned runs and an 84/25 SO/BB ratio...finished the year third in the MWL in ERA among qualifying pitchers, tied for third in wins and 10th in innings pitched.
2017
Only pitched in six games (4 starts) between Single-A Elizabethton and Single-A Cedar Rapids, going 2-0 with a combined 2.43 ERA (33.1 IP, 9 ER) and 23 strikeouts...signed with the Twins on July 28.
