With dominant '23, Doval earns first All-Star nod

NEW YORK -- Giants flamethrower Camilo Doval further cemented his reputation as one of the most dominant closers in baseball by earning his first career All-Star nod on Sunday night.

Doval was the lone Giants player named to the National League squad for the 2023 All-Star Game, which will take place on July 11 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The 25-year-old right-hander entered Sunday tied for the Major League lead in saves (24) and has recorded a stellar 1.89 ERA with 53 strikeouts over 38 innings this year.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: July 11 on FOX

He is the first Giants reliever to be selected to an All-Star team since Sergio Romo in 2013.

“There are no words to express how I feel,” Doval said in Spanish. “I’m very proud of being selected. I think if you focus on doing your job and everything works out well, the awards will come.”

• Here are the 2023 All-Star rosters

Manager Gabe Kapler called Doval into his office before Sunday’s series finale at Citi Field to break the news, though the young reliever was initially told the conversation would be about controlling the running game, an area Doval has focused on improving this year.

“They told me they were going to talk to me about the running game,” Doval said. “And I thought, ‘But I’ve been doing better with that. Let’s see what they have to say.’ They surprised me. When they told me, I felt happy but also a little bit nervous.”

A native of Yamasá, Dominican Republic, Doval has enjoyed a fast rise since debuting with the Giants during their 107-win campaign in 2021. By the end of his rookie season, Doval had taken over closing duties for injured veteran Jake McGee, earning his first career National League Reliever of the Month honor in September 2021.

Doval has added two more of those trophies to his name since then, most recently in May, when he went 11-for-11 in save opportunities while posting a 1.32 ERA over 14 appearances. He set a Giants Statcast record by topping out at 104 mph with his cutter last year, though he also features a nasty slider -- opponents are hitting only .103 (6-for-58) with 32 strikeouts against the pitch in 2023 -- and an upper 90s sinker.

“It speaks to his development and how far he’s come in a very short period of time,” Kapler said. “He’s really excited. We were really excited for him. He was super gracious at receiving the information. He thanked a lot of people. You can tell how much it meant to him. It means a lot to us, too. He’s very deserving. He’s had a phenomenal year. He’s one of the premier closers in the game. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Kapler said he believed infielders J.D. Davis, Thairo Estrada and LaMonte Wade Jr., as well as right-handers Logan Webb and Tyler Rogers, were also worthy of All-Star consideration, though no Giants players ended up advancing past the first round of fan voting this year. Doval will be accompanied to Seattle by Giants trainer Anthony Reyes, who was named to NL manager Rob Thompson’s staff last week.

Doval said he’s never been to Seattle, but he’s looking forward to the All-Star festivities and sharing the experience with his 2-year-old son, Liam Camilo. The Midsummer Classic should give him another opportunity to grow his profile on a national stage, as he also delivered an electric performance for the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic in Miami earlier this year.

“They’re two dreams come true,” Doval said. “It’s an honor to represent my team and my country. It’s something you always carry in your heart. This is unforgettable.”