SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: San Francisco Giants' Camilo Doval strikes out the side in the ninth inning as the Giants beat the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
For the second straight year, Camilo Doval, the Giants’ young gunslinger, earned the highest monthly honor for a National League reliever for his work in the final month of the season.
Doval, 25, converted all nine of his save opportunities, struck out 16 batters and allowed two runs in 13 appearances (a 1.38 ERA), and on Monday was awarded NL reliever of the month.
Doval also earned the honor last September, when he didn’t allow a run over his final 15 appearances (12 in September) in the middle of the Giants’ race for the NL West title.
The Giants’ circumstances are different this season. Doval, though, has been just as dominant.
In a testament to his development this season, Doval isn’t the same pitcher this September as he was last year.
At midseason, Doval incorporated a high-90s sinker to accompany his triple-digit four-seamer (which also reached new heights last month, touching 104 mph twice) and wipeout slider. He begun experimenting with the new pitch during spring training but said he didn’t want to break it out until he knew he could use it to get batters out.
Despite Doval’s emergence last September, he only recorded two saves. Entering this spring, manager Gabe Kapler refused to name a closer. But as the year comes to a close, the role is undeniably Doval’s.
His progress has been one bright spot in an otherwise dreary season.
In 68 appearances (tied for third-most in the NL), Doval has a 2.53 ERA (best in the Giants’ bullpen), 27 saves (sixth in the NL), 80 strikeouts and 30 walks in 67⅔ innings.
On the checklist for next season: an enhanced entrance.
Doval cycled through two songs (one a Latin ballad, the other a remix of “Tequila!”) before landing on his current intro, “Los Aparatos” by El Alfa, Noriel & Trueno, accented by a burst of water from the fountains in right field.
A new intro was in the works this month, but Doval requested it to be shelved until next year.
Originally published at Evan Webeck