Randy Dobnak was the final player announced on the Minnesota Twins' Opening Day roster, and it was for good reason.
No, not because his circumstances are such that he was uniquely and perfectly qualified for that spot.
With the Twins coming out of Spring Training healthy-ish in their bullpen, they really only had one spot open — the one earmarked for Brock Stewart. Well, Stewart wasn't quite ready to break camp with the Twins after battling a hamstring issue in camp, so he was placed on the injured list in the meantime.
That left the Twins with a few possiblities for filling the 40-man spot vacated when Eiberson Castellano was sent back to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The two who seemed most likely to join the Twins were lefty Anthony Misiewicz and righty Scott Blewett. Instead, both players were St. Paul-bound and Dobnak got the final spot.
The logic, as weird as it sounds, is actually quite sound. Even if Dobnak isn't as good as either of those two — and this is by no means implying that — it's a spot that'll only be used in low-leverage situations (like his debut with the Twins down 8-1 on Sunday).
Dobnak's extension calls for him to make $3 million this year, and so when the Twins inevitably need 40-man roster space for someone, they can DFA the bearded righty with little fear he'll be claimed on waivers. Once he clears, he heads back to St. Paul to bide his time before his contract expires at season's end (there are options, but they'll be declined).
In essence, the Twins are able to quasi game the 40-man roster rule with a player who is good enough to help out when needed but not good enough to be claimed off waivers when he's dropped.
It takes a unique person to embrace this sort of role, and Dobnak sure seems to be that. The fact that he's in the big leagues at all tells quite a story.
We won't get into it; it's been laid out many times before. For those of us who keep seeing it, you could say it's uber annoying when people fixate on it over his pitching.
But where Dobnak can really help the Twins, besides as a 40-man EZ pass, is as a long guy soaking up innings just as he did on Sunday in St. Louis.
Add to it that he induces tons of grounders, and thus is always a double play away from getting out of a jam, and he's uniquely qualified, with his endurance built up, to be a swingman-type on a team like this (where short starts should be rare, but will still happen at times).
He'll never strike out many batters, but if he keeps the ball in the park and his walks in check, there's still plenty of utility here.
But will it be in the big leagues? Short of continued health issues in the bullpen, that remains to be seen but seems unlikely.
Then again, Stewart has never really been healthy for long in his career, so enjoy Randy while ya got him, OK?