The San Francisco Giants began the season with Him as their closer, but his struggles have led to Camilo Doval taking over the role. A stint in the minors might be necessary for Him to regroup, similar to what the team did with Doval last year.
Walker has made 36 appearances this season and currently holds a 4.64 ERA. Although he’s had a few strong outings, he hasn’t resembled the dominant reliever who posted a 1.91 ERA over 80 innings last season.
SF Giants should demote struggling reliever to give him a reset
Walker simply hasn’t had the same command this season that he showed last year. His go-to slider, once a dependable weapon, has let him down at times, and overall, he no longer resembles the dominant, nearly unhittable force that once impressed opposing hitters.
His latest outing on Sunday against the White Sox may have been his roughest yet. He entered with a one-run lead and two runners on, only to allow three runs—one of which came home on a balk. It was his second balk in as many games, having also committed one on Friday, adding to the confusion.
Walker’s struggles feel eerily similar to the ones Doval experienced in 2024. Doval had just come off a stellar All-Star season in 2023 but started walking more hitters, blowing more saves, and showing signs of frustration that led to a brief demotion to Triple-A.
That stint in the minors helped. Doval returned looking more composed and has rebounded well in 2025, pitching to a 2.70 ERA over 36.2 innings, much closer to the form he showed in 2022 and 2023.
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Walker might benefit from a similar reset. A short time in the minors, away from the high-pressure situations, could allow him to fine-tune his mechanics and regain confidence.
When he’s on, Walker has the potential to be a top-tier reliever. If the Giants want to contend, getting him back to that level will be key—and a brief demotion might be the spark he needs.
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