SAN FRANCISCO — Bronx Bombers Rethink Doval’s Role

When the Yankees traded for Camilo Doval from the Giants last year, they figured he would make a smooth transition into a setup role, especially with David Bednar also joining the team for a stronger bullpen. However, things didn’t quite go as planned. Doval really struggled in his early days with the Yankees, and it was evident he found it challenging to adjust to not being the one closing out games.

He showed improvement towards the end of last season, but with Devin Williams and Luke Weaver now with the Mets, the Yankees are once again counting on Doval to be their main setup guy, while Bednar continues to take on closing duties as they did recently.

Maybe it was the familiarity of Oracle Park, but Doval looked solid in the first couple of games this season, particularly in their 3-0 win over the Giants. In the eighth inning, he struck out the side, allowing only one hit, creating a nice cushion for Bednar who finished the game.

Aaron Boone noted Doval’s performance, calling his sinker “dominant.” He remarked, “That’s his skill set. In many ways, he outperformed them.” Entering Friday’s match with a three-run lead, Doval didn’t shy away either—he struck out Heriot Ramos, Casey Schmidt, and Patrick Bailey—a lineup that, while not the most imposing, was a big step up from many performances last season when he struggled to adapt to a non-closing role.

Doval managed to end his regular season on a high note. After a rocky start, he threw five scoreless innings in his last six games, bouncing back from a rough patch that included ten earned runs in his first sixteen appearances.

On Friday, speaking through an interpreter, Doval shared how he feels “comfortable” in his current role and expressed satisfaction with his performance during that game.

In 2023, Doval had saved a remarkable 39 games for San Francisco, though his second half was far from stellar. Now, the expectation is that he will play a pivotal role as one of Boone’s key relievers in high-leverage situations.

Along with him, Fernando Cruz and lefty Tim Hill helped contribute, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.

That said, there are still concerns regarding the Yankees’ bullpen this year, especially with players like Jake Byrd and Rule 5 acquisition Cade Winquest involved. If things pan out as hoped, Doval may settle more comfortably into a setup position. There’s even a chance that young prospect Carlos LaGrange could be shifted into a reliever role if he logs too many minor league innings, but for now, the Yankees are really counting on Doval, who initially caught their eye from the Giants last season.