Yankees 97 mph reliever joins Dominican Republic for World Baseball Classic

There are to be a few notable names missing from the New York Yankees camp for a decent portion of spring training.

Confirmed players like Aaron Judge and David Bednar will play for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. will suit up for Great Britain. 

With the WBC in less than two months, there are still roster spots up for grabs. According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Yankees reliever Camilo Doval will play for the Dominican Republic.

The right-hander was also on the D.R.'s roster in 2023. 

Doval to play a big role with Yankees 

Doval, an All-Star three seasons ago, was acquired by New York from the San Francisco Giants at last year's trade deadline. He's one of the leading candidates to take over the eighth-inning lane after the departure of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. 

A rough first 22 appearances with the Yankees may have left a sour taste in fans' mouths, but Doval can be nasty when he has command of the strike zone. He recorded 22 strikeouts in 18.1 innings during the second half of 2025, but walked 11 and allowed 19 hits. 

A dominant season similar to 2023 is what the Yankees will look for with Doval, and the WBC could help him regain his All-Star potential. 

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