Randy Dobnak Bio
Randy Travis William Dobnak, born January 17, 1995, is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the Seattle Mariners organization. A right-handed pitcher who throws and bats right, Dobnak stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 230 pounds. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2019 with the Minnesota Twins, where he built a reputation as a reliable starting pitcher during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Over the course of his career, Dobnak has been celebrated for his unusual path to the majors, having gone undrafted out of college before signing with Minnesota on the strength of amateur video footage. He later spent time in the Detroit Tigers organization before joining the Mariners in 2025. Across MLB and the minors, he has compiled a record of perseverance, marked by injuries, demotions, and several comeback efforts.
Early Life and Background
Randy Dobnak grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and attended South Park High School in South Park Township, where he first developed his pitching skills. As a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan, he attended Opening Day events annually and estimates having attended more than 150 games at PNC Park over the years. His upbringing in a devoted baseball household helped shape his early work ethic and passion for the game.
After high school, Dobnak enrolled at Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, West Virginia, where he played college baseball for the Battlers at the NCAA Division II level. There, he caught the attention of Utica Unicorns manager Jim Essian, whose son was Dobnak’s teammate during his freshman and sophomore seasons. That connection would later prove instrumental in launching his professional career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Despite his college success, Dobnak went undrafted in the 2017 MLB Draft and joined the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL). He quickly made an impact, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.31 ERA in six appearances and earning recognition as one of the most accomplished alumni in league history. Out of 52 USPBL alumni who have since signed with MLB organizations, Dobnak is one of only five to reach the major league level.
His breakthrough came on August 1, 2017, when the Minnesota Twins signed him to a minor league contract with a $500 signing bonus, based solely on YouTube videos filmed by his father. Twins scout Billy Milos never watched Dobnak pitch in person before the deal, and the signing later influenced how the organization approached scouting independent-league talent. In his first professional season, Dobnak combined for a 2-0 record and 2.43 ERA in 33 innings between the Elizabethton Twins and Cedar Rapids Kernels.
Randy Dobnak Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
After signing with Minnesota, Dobnak began his ascent through the minor leagues. In 2017, he impressed across two levels, combining for a 2-0 record and 2.43 ERA in 33 innings. The following year, he returned to Cedar Rapids and became a workhorse, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 129 innings, establishing himself as a reliable starter within the Twins’ farm system.
His consistent performance in the Midwest League drew positive reviews from Twins evaluators, who viewed him as a potential depth option for the major league rotation. The development of his sinker and changeup combination during this period laid the foundation for his eventual MLB debut.
Minnesota Twins Breakthrough (2019-2020)
Dobnak began the 2019 season at High-A Fort Myers before advancing to Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Rochester. Across all three levels, he went 12-4 with a 2.07 ERA in 24 games (21 starts), striking out 109 batters in 135 innings. On August 8, 2019, the Twins selected his contract, and he made his MLB debut the following day, pitching four scoreless innings in relief.
With the 2019 Twins, Dobnak went 2-1 with one save and a 1.59 ERA in nine appearances (five starts), striking out 23 batters in 28⅓ innings. He was included on the team’s postseason roster and started Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees. In 2020, he appeared in 10 games, going 6-4 with a 4.05 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 46⅔ innings, while earning a notable victory at PNC Park on August 5, where he pitched six shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 5-2 Twins win.
Minnesota Twins Continued Tenure (2021-2024)
On March 28, 2021, Dobnak agreed to a five-year, $9.25 million extension with the Twins, including three club option years that could bring the total value to $29.75 million. However, finger injuries limited his availability, and he spent portions of 2021 and 2022 on the 60-day injured list. In 2022, the Twins placed him on outright waivers and assigned him to Triple-A St. Paul.
Dobnak spent the 2023 season with Triple-A St. Paul, going 5-9 with a 5.13 ERA in 31 games (26 starts). In 2024, he joined Twins spring training as a non-roster invitee and was briefly added to the major league roster, appearing in four games before being designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and spent the remainder of the season at St. Paul, where he went 9-5 with a 3.61 ERA in 21 games (19 starts). On November 4, 2024, the Twins removed him from the 40-man roster.
Detroit Tigers Era (2025)
On July 28, 2025, the Twins traded Dobnak and Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Enrique Jiménez. He made nine appearances (eight starts) for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, going 1-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 38 innings. The Tigers declined his 2026 option on November 4, making him a free agent.
Seattle Mariners Era (2025-Present)
On November 11, 2025, Dobnak signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners that included an invitation to spring training. He is currently working to earn a spot in the Mariners’ organization as he continues his professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Dobnak’s career came on August 5, 2020, when he returned to his hometown to pitch at PNC Park as a visiting member of the Twins. He delivered six scoreless innings and earned the win in front of a crowd that had watched him grow up as a devoted Pirates fan. His selection to the 2019 ALDS roster and his MLB debut that August remain career-defining achievements.
Randy Dobnak Career Wins
Across his MLB career with the Minnesota Twins, Randy Dobnak recorded several regular-season victories, most notably during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, when he served as a reliable starter. He also contributed in relief roles during the 2019 postseason, starting Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees. His minor league career includes consistent win totals across multiple levels, including a 10-win season at Cedar Rapids in 2018.
Minor League Highlights
In the independent USPBL, Dobnak went 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in six appearances for the Utica Unicorns in 2017. In the Twins’ farm system, he posted a 2-0 record in 2017 and a 10-5 record in 2018 at Cedar Rapids. In 2019, he went 12-4 across three minor league levels before his promotion, and in 2024, he added a 9-5 record with Triple-A St. Paul.
Randy Dobnak Family
Personal Life
Randy Dobnak married Aerial Munson on September 28, 2019, in Maryland. When Minnesota Twins fans discovered the couple’s wedding registry online, Dobnak and Munson redirected donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ultimately raising more than $4,000 for the hospital. Beyond baseball, Dobnak is a lifelong fan and player of the fantasy MMORPG RuneScape. He also worked as a driver for Uber and Lyft beginning in October 2017, maintaining a 4.99-star Uber driver rating as of mid-2019.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Dobnak still in the Minnesota Twins organization. On March 30, 2025, he pitched 5⅓ innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing only one run on two hits. Despite the strong outing, he was designated for assignment the following day following the promotion of Darren McCaughan. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A St. Paul on April 2.
On July 28, 2025, Dobnak was traded to the Detroit Tigers along with Chris Paddack in exchange for Enrique Jiménez. He appeared in nine games (eight starts) for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, posting a 1-1 record and 3.79 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 38 innings. The Tigers declined his 2026 option on November 4, making him a free agent, before he signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners on November 11, 2025, with an invitation to spring training.
As Dobnak prepares for the upcoming season, his focus will be on establishing himself within the Mariners’ system and earning an opportunity to return to the major leagues. His track record of resilience and his proven ability to bounce back from adversity position him well as he begins the next chapter of his career.