Former All-Star reliever Camilo Doval of the San Francisco Giants is facing the coming season with renewed determination, ready to reclaim his status after a challenging 2024. Once a reliable closer for the team, Doval encountered significant control problems that led to his demotion to Triple-A Sacramento. But now, he’s focusing on the road ahead, motivated by support from a familiar and trusted figure—Buster Posey.
During the MLB Winter Meetings, Posey, who has transitioned into a front-office role with the Giants, publicly endorsed Doval, calling him a “lockdown piece” and expressing optimism about his ability to bounce back. For Doval, having Posey’s faith in him is profound. “He played with me. He caught me,” Doval shared through an interpreter, reflecting on their time together. “I trusted whatever he asked me to throw. If in some situations I didn’t want to throw what he was asking for, he trusted me if I wanted to change it.” This testament of confidence from one of the organization’s legends reassures Doval that he has the talent needed to succeed.
With such encouragement, Doval is moving into 2025 with a positive outlook. He recognizes that adjustments were necessary after leading the majors in walks per nine innings last season—an unsettling figure of 5.95 for pitchers who logged at least 50 innings. Being sent down stung, but Doval used it as a catalyst for growth. He arrived in Sacramento ahead of schedule and approached the experience as an opportunity to learn and improve.
“I have to restart myself,” he said, capturing the resilience so many can relate to. “I’m a man of faith, so I believe that maybe this was a lesson from God. He gave me a down year. Well, guess what? It’s a learning process now. I have to step up again and learn from that.” It’s this mindset that can help us all through tough times—viewing setbacks not as failures but as lessons to fuel our future endeavors.
Fast forward to this spring, and the outlook for Doval looks promising. He has been impressive, with a 1.50 ERA in six Cactus League appearances, and has managed to issue just one walk. This newfound control has drawn attention from manager Bob Melvin, who noted, “Camilo’s in a great space right now. He’s pitching really well, throwing strikes, and being efficient.” Melvin recognizes that limiting walks has been crucial for Doval and the entire pitching staff.
While Doval will start the season not as the closer—an honor now belonging to Ryan Walker, who had a breakout 2024—he is expected to be a vital part of the bullpen rotation. With Tyler Rogers likely covering the eighth, Doval will likely serve as a bridge reliever in critical situations where he can demonstrate that he still has the power to step up when it counts.
In a nice touch of nostalgia, Doval also plans to revert to his previous entrance music, “El Hijo Desobediente” by Antonio Aguilar, a song that resonates with his early career in the Giants organization. “Because I want to be the 2023 version,” he remarked with a smile, hinting at his commitment to recapturing the form that made him a crowd favorite.
Through all these ups and downs, Doval remains remarkably laid-back, concentrating on honing his consistency and efficiency on the mound. With a clearer command and a refreshed sense of confidence, he has the potential to once again emerge as a formidable force in the Giants’ bullpen. Whether he’s called upon in the seventh inning or later, Doval is ready to showcase that he still possesses the skills to thrive in the high-pressure moments we all love to see in baseball.
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