Camilo Doval

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Camilo Doval

|image = Camilo Doval pitching, May 25, 2024 - 01-00005 (cropped).jpg

|caption = Doval with the Giants in 2024

|team = San Francisco Giants

|number = 75

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|7|4}}

|birth_place = Yamasá, Dominican Republic

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 18

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 21, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 25–17

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.16

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 315

|stat4label = Saves

|stat4value = 104

|teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2021}}–present)

|highlights =

All-Star (2023)
NL saves leader (2023)

}}

Camilo Doval (born July 4, 1997) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He signed with the Giants as a free agent in 2015, and made his MLB debut with them in 2021. His fastball has reached {{convert|104.5|mph}}.{{Cite web |last=Delucchi |first=Marc |date=July 29, 2021 |title=SF Giants prospect Camilo Doval throws 104.5 mph pitch |url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2021/07/29/sf-giants-camilo-doval-flamethrower/ |access-date=August 9, 2024 |website=Around the Foghorn}}

Early life

Camilo Doval was born on July 4, 1997, in Yamasá, Dominican Republic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/camilo-doval-666808|title=Camilo Doval Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}} His parents are Rosa, an elementary school teacher, and Sergio, a farmer, who have separated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/10/09/sf-giants-camilo-doval-stands-out-in-october-which-is-nothing-new-for-a-pitcher-with-23-half-siblings|title=SF Giants' Camilo Doval stands out in October, which is nothing new for a pitcher with 23 half-siblings|date=October 9, 2021}} He is the third of Rosa's four children, and has a combined 23 siblings and half-siblings, with whom he often communicates in a group chat on WhatsApp.

Professional career

=Minor leagues=

Doval signed with the San Francisco Giants as an international free agent at 18 years of age in October 2015, for a signing bonus of $100,000.{{Cite web|url=https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/2021%20San%20Francisco%20Giants%20Media%20Guide.pdf|title=2021 Media Guide}}{{Cite web|url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2021/04/27/sf-giants-camilo-doval-gregory-santos/|title=SF Giants: Evaluating Camilo Doval and Gregory Santos' debuts|first=Wrenzie Regodon 1 month|last=ago|date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-hard-throwing-righty-camilo-doval-had-fast-rise-mlb-roster|title=What you need to know about new Giants reliever Doval|website=RSN|date=April 16, 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbr.com/2020/07/04/a-lightning-young-pitcher-surprised-his-way-to-giants-pool/|title=A 'lightning' young pitcher surprised his way to Giants' pool|first=Mark W.|last=Sanchez|date=July 4, 2020|website=KNBR}} In 2016 as a pitcher he had a 2–0 win–loss record with one save and a 1.66 earned run average (ERA) for the Rookie-level DSL Giants in the Dominican Summer League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.calameo.com/read/0066969924cf7cb80f44b|title=2021 Richmond Flying Squirrels Media & Information Guide|website=calameo.com}} In 2017 he was 1–2 with one save and a 3.90 ERA, and had 14.2 strikeouts per 9 innings (2nd in the Arizona League) for the Rookie-level AZL Giants.

In 2018 he was 0–3 with a 3.06 ERA and had 11 saves (5th in the South Atlantic League) in 44 games (2nd), as he struck out 13.2 batters per 9 innings (3rd).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=0f01b214&type=pitch|title=2018 South Atlantic League Pitching Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} Doval was a 2018 MiLB.com Organization All-Star, pitching for the Class A Augusta Greenjackets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/camilo-doval-666808|title=Camilo Doval Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MiLB.com}} In 2019 he was 3–5 with a 3.83 ERA in 45 relief appearances (3rd in the league) for the Class A-Advanced San Jose Giants, as he allowed only 6.6 hits per 9 innings and struck out 12.8 batters per 9 innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=028cdf2e&type=pitch|title=2019 California League Pitching Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He was a 2019 California League Mid-Season All-Star. Doval averaged 12.8 strikeouts per 9 innings in his first four minor league seasons.

Doval did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=June 30, 2020 }} The Giants added him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-protect-prospects-2020-rule-5-draft|title=SF protects No. 7 prospect from Rule 5 Draft|website=MLB.com}}

He split 2021 between the Triple-A West Sacramento River Cats and the major league Giants. In July, pitching for the River Cats, Doval threw a pitch that was timed at 104.5 mph.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-prospect-camilo-doval-tops-out-insane-1045-mph|title=104.5 mph? Giants prospect Doval apparently hits absurd velocity|website=RSN|date=July 29, 2021 }} For the 2021 season for the River Cats, he was 3–0 with one save and a 4.99 ERA, and averaged 12.9 strikeouts per 9 innings over 28 relief appearances covering 30.2 innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=doval-000cam|title=Camilo Doval Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

=San Francisco Giants (2021–present)=

==2021==

On April 16, 2021, Doval was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/|title=Major League Baseball Transactions|website=Major League Baseball}} He made his MLB debut at 23 years of age on April 18, pitching a scoreless inning of relief with 2 strikeouts against the Miami Marlins.

In September 2021 he became the second Giants pitcher since Statcast started tracking in 2008 to throw a pitch faster than 102 mph, joining Brian Wilson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/camilo-doval-calmly-blows-padres-064809681.html|title=Camilo Doval calmly blows Padres away with eye-opening outings|website=yahoo}} That same month, he became the youngest Giants pitcher, at 24 years and three months old, to record a save since Rod Beck in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/camilo-doval-becomes-youngest-giant-rod-beck-record-save|title=Doval joins Beck in Giants record books with nasty save|website=RSN|date=September 29, 2021 }} Doval was named the National League Reliever of the Month for September/October after throwing 14.1 scoreless innings. He struck out 20 and walked only three batters in those appearances, and by the end was serving as the team's closer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-camilo-doval-named-nl-reliever-month-september|title=Giants' rookie Doval named September NL Reliever of the Month|website=RSN|date=October 4, 2021 }}

In the 2021 regular season with the Giants, Doval was 5–1 with three saves and a 3.00 ERA. In 29 relief appearance he pitched 27 innings in which he struck out 37 batters, averaging 6.3 hits and 12.3 strikeouts per 9 innings with a 1.037 WHIP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dovalca01.shtml|title=Camilo Doval Stats|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} His average fastball velocity of 98.6 mph was in the fastest 1% in MLB.{{Cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/camilo-doval-666808?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb|title=Camilo Doval Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | MLB.com|website=baseballsavant.com}}

In the post-season, Doval threw a scoreless ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4–0 win in Game 1 of the 2021 National League Division Series. He next pitched two perfect innings to save the Giants 1–0 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS. He became the first rookie to have a two-plus inning save in the postseason without allowing a baserunner since saves became an official statistic in 1969. It extended his scoreless streak to 19.1 innings, in which he allowed 8 hits, walked 3, and struck out 25.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/giants-rookie-camilo-doval-emerging-as-potential-mlb-playoff-hero/|title=Giants Rookie Camilo Doval Emerging As Potential MLB Playoff Hero|first=Kyle|last=Glaser|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=October 12, 2021 }}

==2022==

The 2022 season was Doval's first full season in the major leagues, and his first full season as the Giants' closer. He was 6–6 with 27 saves (6th in the NL) in 30 save opportunities, a 2.53 ERA in 68 relief appearances (6th) and 51 games finished (2nd), and in 67.2 innings struck out 80 batters.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/player/camilo-doval-666808 | title=Camilo Doval Stats, Fantasy & News | website=MLB.com }}{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dovalca01.shtml | title=Camilo Doval Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More }} His average fastball velocity of 99 mph was in the fastest 1% in MLB.

He was again named the NL Reliever of the Month for September.{{cite web | url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2022/10/4/23387879/camilo-doval-is-that-guy-sf-giants-nl-reliever-of-the-month-september-2022 | title=Camilo Doval is that guy | date=October 4, 2022 }}

==2023==

Doval was named NL Reliever of the Month for May 2023, his third such career award. In 14 May appearances, he converted all 11 of his save opportunities over 13.2 innings while posting a 1.32 ERA and striking out 23.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/camilo-doval-reliever-nl-of-the-month-for-may |title= Camilo Doval of the San Francisco Giants named the National League Reliever of the Month for May |website= MLB.com |date=June 2, 2023}}

On July 2, 2023, he was named to the NL All-Star team for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.{{Cite tweet |user=extrabaggs |number=1675619956388405248 |title=Camilo Doval said he was called into Gabe Kapler's office to talk about holding runners better.}} At the time of the selection, he led both leagues with 24 saves out of 26 opportunities and was 2-2 with a 1.89 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 38.0 innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dovalca01.shtml|title=Camilo Doval Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com}} Doval was the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game, becoming the eighth Giant to be the winning pitcher in the Midsummer Classic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/history/san-francisco-giants-reliever-camilo-doval-enters-giants-team-history-with-all-star-game-win|title=San Francisco Giants Reliever Camilo Doval Enters Giants Records Books During All-Star Game|first=Brady|last=Farkas|date=July 12, 2023|website=Fastball}}

==2024==

In 2024, Doval played 62 games for San Francisco, posted a 4.88 ERA with 78 strikeouts and 23 saves across 59 innings pitched.

==2025==

On June 5, 2025 against the San Diego Padres, Doval recorded his 100th career save as a closing pitcher as the Giants defeated the Padres 3–2.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dominic-smith-notches-go-ahead-hit-in-giants-win-over-padres |title=Smith boosts new team with go-ahead knock in Giants' win |last=Guardado |first=Maria |date=June 5, 2025 |access-date=June 6, 2025 |website=MLB.com}}

Pitching style

His four-seam fastball reaches 104 mph, and he also throws a high-80s hard slider and an occasional change-up. In the middle of the 2022 season, Doval added a sinker averaging in the high-90s to his pitch repotoire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/camilo-doval-s-sinker-103-mph-cutter-key-to-success|title=Giant's 103 mph pitch may not be his best|first=Maria|last=Guardado|website=www.mlb.com}} He throws from a very low, nearly sidearm arm slot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/camilo-doval-brings-big-power-from-a-low-slot/|title=Camilo Doval Brings Big Power From A Low Slot|first=Steve|last=Kroner|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=November 27, 2020 }} He relied primarily on his 88 mph slider (against which batters hit .154), 99 mph cutter, and 98 mph sinker.{{Cite web|url=http://www.brooksbaseball.net/landing.php?666808|title=BrooksBaseball.net Player Card: Camilo Doval|website=www.brooksbaseball.net}}