Camilo Doval, the SF Giants’ closer, has been sent down to Sacramento, putting an end to a disappointing season for the flamethrower. In a matching move, Landen Roupp was recalled to take his spot on the roster.
SF Giants make surprise move by demoting 2023 NL All-Star reliever
Thursday’s outing, in which Doval blew a three-run lead against the Washington Nationals for his fifth failed save of the season, appeared to be the last straw. He walked two batters before allowing a three-run homer to Luis GarcÃa Jr., tying the game.
It would have been unimaginable a year ago to remove Doval from the closer’s role, let alone demote him to the minors. Doval had a 2.77 ERA and an outstanding 30.2% K-rate in 162.1 career innings from 2021-23, earning 69 saves.
This season, however, Doval has been more Hyde than Jekyll. His walk rate is at a career high, with 5.93 batters reaching via free passes per nine innings, and his ERA is a clear career high of 4.70.
His velocity has been consistent, although it appears that he has occasionally lost focus on the pitch. Perhaps this will be the mental reset Doval requires to return to his former self.
It’s reasonable to expect Doval’s stay in Sacramento to be brief, but when he returns, he’ll need to fight hard to reclaim the title of closer. Giants manager Bob Melvin told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that Ryan Walker will be the team’s closer. There were other options to explore, but Walker makes a lot of sense.
Assuming Doval is not traded during the winter, he will be an important element of the Giants’ pursuit for contention in 2025. His résumé and raw material are simply too brilliant to ignore. When he’s on point, he’s exactly what the Giants’ bullpen requires, but not if it means losing games in the short term.
A spell in Sacramento to work on his mechanics and attention should be enough to get Doval back on track. However, pitching in Triple-A may be a difficulty due to the automatic strike zone. Walk rates have grown in recent years as a result. Furthermore, pitching in the Pacific Coast League is notoriously difficult due to the hitter-friendly nature of some ballparks. To return to the Giants, Doval must prove that his control concerns have been resolved.
