FORT MYERS, FLA. – Randy Dobnak was scheduled to pitch five innings in a minor league spring training game Sunday until the plan changed the night before.

"They told me, 'You're only going to throw two [innings] just to keep your arm ready in case we need you,'" Dobnak said.

That was Dobnak's first hint, after he was cut from big-league camp on March 9, that he could be on the Twins' Opening Day roster.

On Monday night, one day before the Twins broke camp, Dobnak learned he was headed with the team to St. Louis, filling the last open spot in the bullpen. He will serve as the club's long reliever at the start of the season.

"It was a pleasant surprise," said Dobnak, who made his first Opening Day team since 2021.

The Twins opted to send non-roster relievers Scott Blewett and Anthony Misiewicz to Class AAA because they are out of minor league options once they are added to the 40-man roster. It's expected to be a short-term absence for Brock Stewart, who will start the season on the 15-day injured list, so the Twins didn't want to potentially lose an out-of-options reliever in early April. Stewart pitched an inning in a minor league spring training game Tuesday, and he's expected to begin a Class AAA rehab assignment next week in Columbus.

Dobnak, 30, is out of minor league options, but a team would have to assume the prorated amount of his $3 million salary, plus a $1.2 million buyout for future club options, if he was claimed off waivers, making it likely he can clear waivers and remain in the organization.

It has been a solid spring for Dobnak. He pitched six scoreless innings in the Grapefruit League with seven strikeouts and three walks. When he pitched two innings against Boston's minor leaguers Sunday, he struck out three across two scoreless innings with a 92-mph fastball while generating several whiffs with his 85-86 mph changeup.

"Dobnak is a very versatile pitcher and someone we're familiar with," Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli said. "He's someone who can go long, short, pitch efficiently and do a lot of good things for us."

Lewis progressing

Royce Lewis will return to Minnesota on Wednesday as he continues to rehab his strained left hamstring. He has yet to begin baseball activities, besides throwing, but there is no firm timetable for him to return until the swelling is gone.

"We have a lot of swelling. I think that's the worst part," said Lewis, who exited a spring training game on March 16 with his injury. "Once we get over the swelling, then we can really start going. We can start seeing how it's reacting to heavy volume. Right now, we're doing heavier stuff than I thought, for sure, but it's taking a little bit of time because of swelling."

Lewis was told the swelling could last up to two weeks from his injury. He's still working out in the weight room and riding an exercise bike.

"We're doing the right things, that's all I know, because I feel better every day," Lewis said.

Etc.

  • Trevor Larnach hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Chris Paddack struck out five batters across 3⅓ innings, permitting two runs on two hits and two walks, as the Twins closed their spring training schedule with a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday at Hammond Stadium.
  • The Twins reached a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Progressive Insurance for the naming rights to their new TV broadcast platform: Twins.TV presented by Progressive. The Twins announced their TV broadcasts "will be available on similar cable, satellite and multichannel video providers in which Twins Baseball has been carried previously," but specific channel details for the biggest cable and satellite carriers have yet to be released.
  • Twins prospect Luke Keaschall played second base for half of a Class AAA spring training game Tuesday, marking his return to the field after he underwent Tommy John surgery last August. "He'll DH some," Twins General Manager Jeremy Zoll said. "He'll play second some. As the season goes on, we'll start introducing outfield again."
  • Eiberson Castellano, the righthanded pitcher the Twins took in the Rule 5 Draft, cleared waivers after he didn't make the Twins' Opening Day roster, and he was returned to the Philadelphia Phillies, his original team.
  • The Twins drew 113,670 fans (6,686 per game) to their 17 Grapefruit League home games at Hammond Stadium. It's a dip from last year when they attracted 115,882 fans (7,243 per game) to 16 spring training home games.

2025 Twins Opening Day roster

Catchers: Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez.

Infielders: Ty France, Willi Castro, Carlos Correa, Jose Miranda, Edouard Julien and Mickey Gasper.

Outfielders: Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Harrison Bader and DaShawn Keirsey Jr.

Starting pitchers: Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richardson.

Bullpen: Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands, Danny Coulombe, Jorge Alcala, Louie Varland, Justin Topa and Randy Dobnak.