Twins pitchers Duffey and Dobnak react to MLB returning

Minnesota Twins pitchers Tyler Duffey and Randy Dobnak spoke with KSTP Sports’ Darren Wolfson to discuss the return of Major League Baseball.

***CLICK ON THE VIDEO BOX ABOVE TO HEAR FROM DUFFEY AND DOBNAK***

Duffey notes:

• said he is driving up from Houston
• he talked to pitching coach Wes Johnson this morning to map out an early plan for next week
• all guys won’t be at the ballpark at the same time
• his love for licking his fingers and how he’ll adjust with that now banned
• the potential of his wife and baby staying in Houston, and not being able to see his child for 3+ months
• how much easier it is for relievers compared to starters to ramp up

Dobnak notes:

• spoke about plans for leaving West Virginia on Saturday morning to drive to Minneapolis
• how he’s been throwing to some high school and college kids– he threw a bullpen Wednesday morning and will throw again on Friday
• his excitement about getting back to work
• how he is planning on fighting for a roster spot like he did in March
• how he thinks the roster is good enough to win the World Series

Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks, as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony.

The sides expanded the designated hitter to games involving National League teams for the first time and instituted the radical innovation of starting extra innings with a runner on second base.

Playoff teams remain at 10 for now — there is still talk of a possible expansion. The rejected deal had called for 16 teams.

Players will start reporting for the resumption of training next week, on July 1.