When the Yankees pulled off a bold offseason trade to acquire Devin Williams—sending Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin to the Brewers—it was a clear message: the Bronx Bombers are all-in. Williams arrived with an elite track record, a wicked changeup, and two NL Reliever of the Year awards to his name. On paper, he looked like the perfect solution to the Yankees’ ninth-inning needs. But four games into his pinstripes tenure, the honeymoon phase is already over.
Early Struggles Raise Eyebrows
Williams’ start in New York has been anything but smooth. In his most recent outing—Wednesday afternoon in Detroit—he nearly let a 4-0 lead slip away, surrendering three runs before Mark Leiter Jr. had to bail him out. Through four appearances as a Yankee, Williams has posted a rough line: 3 IP, 5 H, 5 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 0 clean innings
That’s not the kind of debut fans were expecting from a supposed lockdown closer. Williams has chalked up his early struggles to rust, noting that a brief paternity leave disrupted his rhythm. Manager Aaron Boone remains patient, saying, “The stuff is still there—it’s just about refining the execution.” Williams echoed the sentiment to reporters after his latest appearance: “Once I get into a rhythm, things will turn.”
The Mental Game: Can He Handle the Bronx?
Williams’ physical tools are undeniable—but the Bronx demands more than raw talent. Pressure, scrutiny, and postseason expectations weigh heavier in pinstripes than almost anywhere else. And while Williams has matured since his infamous 2021 self-inflicted hand injury—punching a wall and missing the playoffs—questions remain about how he’ll respond when the stakes get highest. And that’s the real concern: October.
Dominant Regular Season, Shaky Postseason
There’s no questioning Williams’ dominance in the regular season. He won the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year, and is a two-time National League All-Star and Reliever of the Year. But his postseason résumé tells a very different story. The contrast is stark—and for a franchise where rings are the only currency that matters, it’s a major red flag.
- Career Regular Season Stats: 27–11, 69 saves, 380 K, 1.96 ERA in 238.2 IP
- Career Postseason Stats: 0–1, 1 blown save, 4 BB, 2 K, 23.14 ERA in 3 appearances
- 2024 NL Wild Card: 1.2 IP, 4 ER, including a back-breaking 3-run homer to Pete Alonso.
- 2023 NL Wild Card: 0.2 IP, 3 BB, 2 ER.
Breaking Down the Arsenal
What makes Williams so tough to hit is his otherworldly changeup—nicknamed the “Airbender.” With mind-bending horizontal movement, it’s one of the nastiest pitches in baseball. Combine that with a mid-90s fastball that plays up thanks to elite spin and a 7’6” extension, and it’s easy to see why hitters often walk back to the dugout shaking their heads.
When he’s on, Williams is nearly unhittable. The challenge now is finding consistency in a city that has zero patience for growing pains.
Reason to Believe
Despite the rocky start, there’s still plenty of reason for optimism. Devin has proven he is a top three closer in all of Major League Baseball. His “Airbender” changeup is one of, if not the most singular dominant pitch in the entire league. His elite strikeout stuff will play in the Bronx, or any park for that matter. It is also important to note that Williams historically builds momentum as the season progresses. Here are Williams’ monthly ERA splits over the course of his career.
- Mar/Apr: 3.86 ERA
- May: 2.51 ERA
- June: 1.65 ERA
- July: 0.87 ERA
- August: 1.55 ERA
- Sept/Oct: 1.89 ERA
These trends suggest better days are just around the corner. Personally, I agree with Boone and Williams that there is no reason to be concerned. Could General Manager Brian Cashman even leverage his early struggles and extend him? While it sounds crazy now might be the best time to negotiate before he returns to form.
Final Word: Boom or Bust?
Devin Williams has all the ingredients to become a Yankee legend—but the spotlight in New York is unforgiving. If he finds his rhythm, he might just be the missing piece to a championship puzzle. But if control issues persist and the playoff woes continue, the Yankees could be staring down another October disappointment. Only oner thing’s for sure: the Bronx will be watching—and it won’t be quietly.
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