San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Camilo Doval who returned to San Francisco after playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates for most of 2026 (file photo from Wikipedia)
By Tony the Tiger Hayes
Just a year after Camilo Doval’s ghastly relief pitching instigated a trade out of San Francisco, the Giants stunningly brought their wayward former All-Star closer back to the organization this weekend.
Days after Doval’s most recent club – the Pittsburgh Pirates- cut ties with the hard-throwing Dominican, the Giants claimed Doval off waivers.
Remarkably, in his first game back with San Francisco, Doval struck out the first three batters he faced including former MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in one inning of work vs. the visiting Dodgers in a 3-2 loss on Saturday.
Once one of the games top closers – Doval saved 107 games for the Orange & Black from 2021-25 good for seventh place on the franchises all-time saves list.
A fan favorite, Doval was once apple of the Giants eye.
The club hosted a bobblehead day featuring his likeness and after saving 39 games in 2023 the club approached the hurler with a big money, multi-year contract extension that would have provided Doval generational wealth.
The confidence filled pitcher declined the offer, choosing to bet on himself for an ever better offer in the future.
He lost the bet.
Wildness and other pitching arsenal inconsistencies began plaguing Doval in 2024 – he spent time back at Triple-A for a stretch- the difficulties continued into 2025.
When the blown saves kept piling up, San Francisco began looking for other late inning options.
Eventually, Doval was usurped by fellow Dominican RHP Randy Rodriguez as Giants closer.
It appeared a change of scenery would be best for both the pitcher and he was traded to the Yankees at the trade deadline last season for a handful of prospects.
Doval’s struggled in pinstripes as he never settled into a consistent groove. New York traded him to Pittsburgh earlier this season.
After his claim by the Giants, Doval expressed happiness to be coming home to 3rd & King, stating his desire to pitch with the Giants the remainder of his career.
While it’s not typical for a player to return to a club after being traded or released and find success again, happy reunions have occurred.
Locally, stolen base king Rickey Henderson was as good as he ever was when he was re-acquired by Oakland in mid-1989 after spending the previous four and a half seasons with the Yankees – batting .294 and swiping 52 bases, helping lead the A’s to a four games sweep of the Giants in the World Series that fall.
Similar to Henderson, Doval’s reunion with San Francisco falls into a unique category. He’s young player still in his prime who’s already experienced a good deal of success.
Traditionally reunion players fall into a couple of categories: popular veterans nearing the end of their careers or fringe players brought back to fill support roles.
Though the years the San Francisco Giants have brought back roughly 40-odd players back into Mike Murphy’s clubhouse.
Positionally, the lion share of those returning for second acts are pitchers. Outfielders have been the least likely to return, with only a select few making U turns back to Bay City.
Here’s a look at some of the more notable players who left their hearts in San Francisco and came back for them.
Most Endearing : Willie McCovey.
There’s no truth to the rumor that Willie Mac’s triumphant return to the Giants in 1977 was the inspiration for Peaches and Herb’s 1978 smash hit “Reunited” – but it could have been.
The extremely popular slugger gallantly returned to Candlestick Park – winning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors, crushing 28 home runs and driving in 86 run – and invigorating an Orange & Black fan base that had grown gloomy and desperate after the 1959 Rookie of the Year was traded to San Diego four years earlier. In 1978, Willie cemented his place in Cooperstown with career home run 500.
Welcome Back (Cy) Young Man – Mike McCormick
We’ll see how Doval’s second term as a Giant progresses – but he’s got his work cut out if he wants to catch this flame throwing south paw.
McCormick was a 17-year old “Bonus Baby” signee out of Los Angeles when he broke in as a New York Giant in 1956 after posting a 34-4 record as a school boy. He matured quickly into a reliable big leaguer, leading the NL in ERA in 1960 (2.70) for San Francisco. But after a down season in 1962, McCormick was dispatched to the AL where he toiled in obscurity for Baltimore and Washington for several seasons. Reacquired as a reclamation project in 1967, McCormick, still only 27, astoundingly led the Senior Circuit in wins (22) becoming the first Giant ever to win the Cy Young Award.
Unsung Homecoming – Chris Speier
This Alameda native was a boyish looking shortstop playing alongside his childhood heroes Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal when he broke in at age 20 helping propel the Giants to the NL West flag in 1971. But after becoming the face of the franchise in the bleak mid-1970s and repping the Orange & Black at two All-Star Games, Speier was ignominious swapped to Montreal in 1977 after a bitter contract dispute.
When he returned a decade later, Speier was a salty big league veteran and family man. Speier seamlessly stepped into a key infield backup role with San Francisco, assisting the Orange & Black to their first division crown since… 1971.
Chris also played a similar role for the 1989 NL Champion Giants.
Convened for Champagne
- Ryan Vogelsong & Travis Ishikawa.
This pitcher and utility-man combo came up as kids with the Giants in 2000 and 2006 respectively, prior to venturing into the baseball hinterlands before returning to find true glory in the City by the Bay.
Ishikawa played a modest role for the Giants 2010 World Series Champions before embarking on a journey that saw him make stops with five different organizations over the next two seasons. When he returned in 2014, Ishikawa played off the bench during the regular season before unexpectedly being thrust into the starting lineup in the postseason in at the unfamiliar position of left field.
Travis heroically batted .385 and drove in seven runs in the ‘14 NLCS – he forever secured his place in Giants history with his walk-off 3-run home run off St. Louis’ Michael Wacha to send the Giants to the World Series.
For years, Vogelsong pitched in obscurity in backwater towns and overseas, after being dealt away by the Giants in the 2001 Jason Schmidt trade. Vogelsong made a remarkable career turnaround when he resigned with the Giants in 2011, experiencing his first big league action in five seasons.
Vogie was a mainstay of the Giants pitching staffs for both the 2012 and 2014 world championship clubs. After winning two games in the ‘12 NLCS, the gritty hurler notched a win in Game 3 of the Fall Classic – combining with two Giants pitchers to shutout Detroit 2-0.
Heartwarming Homecoming – Pablo Sandoval
One of the most beloved characters of the Giants 2010s super teams – the 2012 World Series MVP walked away from San Francisco with uncharacteristic sneer after snagging the final out of Game 7 of the 2014 World Series at Kansas City – signing a fat free agent deal with Boston.
On his way out the door, the “Panda” complained he wasn’t appreciated by Giants brass.
But after three dreadful injury plagued seasons with the Red Sox – highlighted by an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction- the notoriously zaftig Pablo returned to 3rd & King with his Panda tail between his legs in mid-2017.
Of course he was greeted with a standing ovation.
While he never reclaimed his status as a game changer, Sandoval was a popular addition to the club through 2020.
Longtime, No See – Leon Wagner
The colorful Wagner went a full decade between stints with the Giants – making his hiatus from the Orange & Black the longest of any player who circled back to Bay City.
Though he was overshadowed by first year teammate Orlando Cepeda in 1958, the stylish Wagner produced a very impressive rookie campaign for the original first year San Francisco Giants, batting .317, with 13 long balls and 35 RBI in just 74 ballgames.
In 1959 “Daddy Wags” contributed one of most memorable moments of the Giants’ Seals Stadium era, swatting a walk off pinch-hit grand-slam to upend the visiting Dodgers 6-4 (5/26/59).
Traded before the 1960 season to St. Louis – Wagner is actually credited with blasting the first home run ever at Candlestick Park as a member of the Redbirds (4/12/60). He also poked one out the next day as well.
After achieving significant 1960s stardom with the Angels and Indians, a wilting Wagner ended his big league career back where it began, appearing in 11 games for the 1969 Giants.
Time Heals All Wounds-Bob Knepper
Though he’s rarely mentioned these days in Giants circles, Knepper is arguably the best left-handed starting pitchers ever signed, developed and promoted to the big leagues by San Francisco.
Knepper was a top-notch hurler featuring a big, slow overhand curveball to win 146 games and post a tidy 3.68 ERA in 15 MLB seasons.
In 1978, Knepper could have easily been a Giants All-Star, as he racked up 17 wins (including a NL best 6 shutouts) and fourth best ERA (2.63) as the upstart Giants topped the NL West for much of the summer.
The Giants eventually soured on Knepper when he failed to repeat his ‘78 success and he was traded after the 1980 season to Houston in exchange for IF Enos Cabell.
A strong-willed Christian, Knepper was a member of the Giants controversial so-called “God Squad” in the ‘70s.
On his way to Texas, Knepper took a pot shot at San Francisco’s much publicized free-wheeling reputation, reportedly saying he was pleased to be leaving a “liberal, almost anti-Christian society.”
Knepper reestablished himself as an ace with Houston, winning Comeback Player of the Year award in 1981. The lefty won a NL best 25 games in 1985 and backed it with 20 W’s in 1986.
When Knepper got off to a middling start to the 1989 campaign, he was released mid-season.
Giants president Al Rosen – who traded for Knepper when he held a similar position with the Astros – quickly scooped up the veteran.
His first game back with the Orange & Black was an emotional and memorable day for the lefty. Not only was he back in the Orange & Black for the first time in nine years, his return would come against a visiting Houston club.
Before a packed Candlestick Park crowd of 52,292 on a glorious sun splashed Sunday afternoon (8/6/89), Knepper limited his former club to just two runs over 6 innings. Houston would end up winning the game 3-2, but it could not tarnish Knepper’s return.
On 8/22/89 he pitched his 30th career shutout (and 78 career complete game) whitewashing the Mets 5-0 in New York.
Knepper was unexpected godsend for the ‘89 NL West winning Giants – working out of both the rotation and bullpen. He returned in 1990 before retiring in mid-season.
Hello, Goodbye… Again – J.T. Snow
A fan favorite and multiple-time Gold Glove winning first baseman, Snow has the briefest return engagement with the Giants. A Giant from 1997-2005, J.T. was a winning player for the club, appearing in six postseason series for San Francisco, including the 2002 World Series.
When the Giants decided to go with youngster Lance Niekro at first base in 2006, Snow signed with Boston. When the Red Sox released the slumping Snow in mid-season he announced his retirement as an active player.
Or did he?
Some 26 months later, on the final weekend of the 2008 season, the Giants suddenly announced that Snow would be signing a major league contract with San Francisco and officially retiring as a Giant.
Such scenarios are not unusual in sports these days. But instead of signing a ceremonial contract at a dais and riding off into the sunset, the Giants oddly activated Snow and officially wrote his name into the starting lineup for a Saturday home game vs. the Dodgers 9/27/08.
Snow took the field, taking warmup tosses at first base. But before the first pitch was thrown, Snow was pulled off the field to appreciative cheering and replaced at first by Travis Ishikawa.
Though he didn’t have a plate appearance or have a fielding chance, Snow was credited with a game appearance. His name appears in the official box score.
