Minnesota Twins with Something to Prove No. 1: Randy Dobnak
We’ll start off this list with someone who we actually like quite a bit. Randy Dobnak has a feel good story, a now world-famous mustache, and plays with a lot of heart and fire. His parents are hilarious and his decision to pay off their mortgage was super cool. But the struggles on the diamond were very real for him.
Dobnak burst into the league in 2019 and even made a start in the 2019 American League Division Series. His 2020 wasn’t as successful, but the Twins saw enough to want to keep him longer. Right before the 2021 season, the Twins signed him to a five year contract that has three options added on the end.
It only will make him $9.25 million guaranteed, so it really won’t hurt the Twins’ pockets that much, but with how awful he was in the majors last year, the team has to be considering their options.
Now one bad season doesn’t 100% determine anything, but Dobnak has to prove that 2019 and the first half of 2020 is more of who he is as a pitcher than the second half of 2020 and all of 2021. With clear gaps in the rotation, the Twins will likely need him at some point. Can he find his form again?