Yankees’ Camilo Doval Maintains Confidence After Costly Grand Slam Against White Sox

Camilo Doval has reached a difficult point in his career where every mistake seems to receive greater attention. Once viewed as one of baseball’s most dominant late-inning relievers, the New York Yankees right-hander is now trying to prove he can return to the form that made him an All-Star and one of the game’s most trusted closers.

That challenge continued Thursday when Doval experienced another rough outing during the Yankees’ loss to the Chicago White Sox. Entering a tied game in the eighth inning, Doval allowed a first-pitch grand slam that changed the entire direction of the contest.

The situation was not completely created by Doval. Earlier in the inning, New York’s bullpen allowed Chicago to build the opportunity, with Fernando Cruz giving up a leadoff double and Tim Hill hitting consecutive batters to load the bases. Still, Doval was unable to escape the jam and allowed the biggest hit of the night.

Despite the disappointing result, Doval refused to focus only on the negative. The veteran reliever believes his struggles are part of the normal ups and downs of baseball and remains confident that a turnaround is coming.

1. A Difficult Moment For Doval

The decisive moment came when Doval threw a 99 mph sinker on his first pitch of the appearance. White Sox veteran Andrew Benintendi took advantage, sending the ball deep into the right-center field seats at Yankee Stadium for a go-ahead grand slam. The home run gave Chicago a 5-1 lead, and the Yankees were unable to recover. Doval finished the outing charged with one earned run over 1 2/3 innings, adding another difficult performance to a season that has not gone according to plan. The numbers reflect the challenges he has faced. After entering the season with expectations of being a reliable bullpen option, Doval’s ERA has climbed above 5.00, creating uncertainty about his role in important situations. For a pitcher who previously dominated hitters with power and confidence, the recent struggles have raised questions about whether he can rediscover the consistency that made him one of the league’s top relievers.

2. Confidence Despite Struggles

Following the loss, Doval chose to focus on patience rather than frustration. He acknowledged that every player goes through difficult stretches and expressed belief that his performance will eventually improve. The right-hander explained that baseball naturally includes periods where results do not match expectations. He believes the work he is putting in will eventually lead to a better stretch on the mound. That mindset is important for any pitcher dealing with adversity. Confidence can often separate players who recover from struggles and those who continue to decline after losing belief in their abilities. However, confidence alone will not erase concerns surrounding his performance. Doval understands that improvement must eventually show up in game situations, especially when the Yankees need reliable bullpen options during a competitive season.

3. The Road Back To Reliability

Doval has shown flashes that suggest a rebound is possible. Before the White Sox matchup, he had gone five straight appearances without allowing a run, proving that he is still capable of effective stretches. The challenge has been maintaining that success over a longer period. Since joining the Yankees, Doval has struggled to consistently perform at the level expected from a former elite closer. One of the biggest issues has been his performance against left-handed hitters, who have found more success against him than in previous seasons. Fixing that weakness will be critical if Doval wants to regain a trusted role in high-pressure situations. The Yankees will likely continue giving him opportunities because of his experience and previous success. But until Doval produces a sustained run of strong performances, questions about his reliability will remain.