NEW YORK — Randy Dobnak announced his long-awaited return to the big leagues like another sporting legend: with a statement that said just two simple words.

“I’m back,” it read, mirroring the statement that Michael Jordan put out when he returned to the NBA after testing his abilities as a baseball player.

Dobnak posted the statement to his social media account Tuesday morning after being recalled to the major leagues for the first time since the 2021 season.

“It’s been a lot of fun the last few years, but a lot of adversity,” Dobnak said. “A lot of adapting to being a different kind of pitcher than I used to be. A lot of injuries. But it’s good to be back.”

It’s been a long path back for the pitcher, who burst onto the scene in 2019 after being signed out of independent ball and even started a playoff game at Yankee Stadium. Dobnak signed a five-year extension with the Twins ahead of the 2021 season, but much of that season ended up being derailed by finger issues.

He spent most of the next year rehabbing as well and said he had issues with it until after the 2022 season. He then spent the past couple of years remaking himself as a pitcher.

“When my finger was still hurting in 22, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever play again,’ ” Dobnak said. “It got to the point where like, I was playing catch, and I could feel myself flexing my finger like, ‘What is going on with this thing?’ … Once the finger got healthy, I knew it was just a matter of time for me to kind of find myself. My new self, I guess you could say. But everything works out for a reason.”

Dobnak, who last pitched in the majors on Sept. 3, 2021, has been particularly effective in Triple-A of late. Over his last eight games, he has posted a 1.70 earned-run average, giving up just eight runs in 42 1/3 innings.

The 29-year-old has been starting for the Saints, though the Twins have used him as a reliever in the past and plan to do so this time around, as well.

“I think a lot of people around here are really happy to see Randy Dobnak here,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It’s an exciting thing when you see a guy actually improve himself, come back, meet a challenge and then go pitch great and do his job. That kind of pumps everybody up.”

He takes the roster spot of reliever Josh Staumont, who was designated for assignment to create space on the roster for newly-acquired reliever Trevor Richards, who is expected to join the Twins in New York for the final game of the series.

To create another spot on the 40-man roster, the Twins transferred Alex Kirilloff (back) to the 60-day injured list.

The Twins will need to make a 26-man roster move on Wednesday to add Richards. That is expected to be reliever Brock Stewart, who is once again dealing with a shoulder issue. Stewart returned after nearly three months dealing with shoulder tendinitis on July 24 but felt his shoulder bother him again in Monday’s game.