Devin Williams off to third-worst start ever by a Yankees reliever

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Devin Williams’ numbers place him among the three worst relievers in Yankees history.

NEW YORK — When Devin Williams signed with the New York Yankees this past offseason, expectations were sky-high. The two-time All-Star arrived with one of the league’s most feared changeups and a track record of dominance as Milwaukee’s elite closer. However, less than a month into the 2025 season, Williams’ time in the Bronx has spiraled into one of the most disastrous starts ever by a Yankees reliever.

His latest failure came Friday night at Yankee Stadium, where he blew a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. The meltdown led to a 4-2 Yankees defeat and saw Williams’ ERA balloon to 11.25 — the third-highest for any Yankees pitcher through their first 10 games, per Stathead’s Katie Sharp.

Among the worst starts in Yankees history

Williams, now 0-2 with four saves, has become an unwanted figure in Yankees history. His performance through his first 10 games is the third-highest for any Yankee pitcher in that span (minimum 8 innings pitched), trailing only Steve Howe and T.J. Beam.

• Steve Howe (1993): 12.96 ERA
• T.J. Beam (2006): 11.70 ERA
• Devin Williams (2025): 11.25 ERA

Howe’s Yankee tenure showcased resilience amid personal struggles. After joining the team and delivering solid performances, his career faced a major setback in 1992 when he became just the second player banned for life due to substance abuse issues, following Ferguson Jenkins.

Successfully appealing the ban, Howe returned to the Yankees and delivered a remarkable 1994 campaign as closer, notching 15 saves with an impressive 1.80 ERA. However, his performance declined sharply the following season, prompting a demotion to setup duties before his June 1996 release after posting a disappointing 0-1 record with a 6.35 ERA.

Beam stepped onto the big stage with the Yankees on June 17, 2006, facing the Nationals at RFK Stadium. His sixth-inning debut lasted 1⅓ frames but proved rocky – surrendering a homer among three hits and one earned run.

Ironically, Beam’s first MLB at-bat ended with ex-Yankee reliever Mike Stanton catching him on a check-swing strikeout. Victory came quickly though, as Beam notched his maiden win on June 20, 2006, needing just one out against Philadelphia’s Aaron Rowand. His Yankee chapter closed when he walked away as a free agent on December 12, 2007.

Williams betrays high Yankees expectations

This shocking fall from grace is almost unthinkable given Williams’ stellar career. Before 2025, he held a career ERA of 2.14, with dominant seasons in 2022 (1.93 ERA) and 2023 (1.53 ERA). Even an injury-riddled 2024 saw him post a stellar 1.25 ERA across 22 appearances.

When Devin Williams arrived in the Bronx this offseason, he was expected to anchor the New York Yankees bullpen with one of the most feared changeups in baseball. Touted as a two-time All-Star and a proven finisher from his days in Milwaukee, Williams was seen as the final piece in a Yankees bullpen that had struggled for consistency since the departure of Mariano Rivera. However, as the calendar nears May, Williams has become a glaring liability — and his numbers now place him among the worst closers in franchise history.

On Friday night, Williams once again faltered under the lights at Yankee Stadium, blowing a 2-1 ninth-inning lead in what would become a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Alejandro Kirk’s two-run double and Addison Barger’s RBI single sealed the Yankees’ fate, as boos rained down from the frustrated Bronx crowd. Williams was pulled mid-inning, his ERA ballooning to 11.25, and his WHIP swelling to an unsightly 2.375.

The loss dropped the Yankees to 15-11 on the season, while the Blue Jays improved to 13-13 and snapped a five-game losing skid.

From dominance to doubt

The sharp decline in Williams’ performance is difficult to reconcile with his previous dominance. He entered 2025 with a career 2.14 ERA and a reputation as one of MLB’s best relievers. In 2022, he posted a 1.93 ERA over 65 appearances, followed by a 1.53 ERA in 61 games in 2023. Though injuries limited him to 22 games in 2024, he still managed an impressive 1.25 ERA.

Expectations were high when he joined the Yankees in December, especially after Juan Soto’s move to the Mets left fans seeking new excitement. Williams was seen as a critical acquisition — one whose devastating changeup, used nearly half the time, held hitters to a .162 average in 2023. Yet in 2025, that same pitch has been battered. Opponents are now hitting .462 against it, 6-for-13 in just a month, a stunning reversal for what was once considered one of the best pitches in the game.

‘Nothing’s working right now’

After the game, a visibly dejected Williams faced reporters, admitting, “It’s getting pretty frustrating. Nothing’s working right now.”

The nightmarish outing began with a leadoff walk to George Springer, followed by a single and a hit-by-pitch. Then came the pivotal moment — Kirk’s two-run double on a 1-0 changeup that failed to fool anyone, leaving Trent Grisham chasing the ball in vain. The stadium turned on Williams, with chants of “We Want Weaver” echoing across the stands, calling for Luke Weaver, who had impressed in previous high-leverage spots.

In 2023 and prior, Williams’ changeup had been his signature — a pitch that neutralized batters and secured leads. This season, that very pitch is betraying him. He has thrown it 108 times in 2025, averaging 84.6 mph, down from his career norm. The velocity gap between his changeup and fastball has narrowed, making both pitches easier to track for opposing hitters.

Historical struggles in the Yankees’ closer role

Since Mariano Rivera’s retirement in 2013, the Yankees have rotated through a string of closers with varying success. David Robertson, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman each had stretches of dominance, with Chapman saving 153 games for the Yankees. However, even Chapman had his share of collapses, including infamous late-game meltdowns in 2021.

Clay Holmes, who replaced Chapman, blew 13 save opportunities in 2024, including a critical grand slam allowed on September 4 to Texas’ Wyatt Langford. Holmes’ inconsistency paved the way for the Yankees to pursue Williams, hoping for stability.

Instead, they have a reliever teetering on the edge of losing his role.

Boone optimistic, but patience runs thin

Despite Williams’ poor start, Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains publicly supportive.

Speaking Saturday, Boone said, “I believe that the stuff is very much still there. He has all the equipment to be great at this. So that’s a good place to start.”

“This isn’t a guy that’s past his prime or anything like that. This is a guy that’s in the middle [of his career] and has a track record of not just success but dominance. Once he gets on a roll, he will.”

Yet, the margin for error is slim. Boone hinted that Williams’ save opportunities may be limited in the short term, as the team assesses alternative options for closing games, including Luke Weaver and Fernando Cruz, both of whom have performed well in relief roles.

Williams’ lone Yankees bright spot this season came on April 17, when he retired the Rays on just six pitches, all changeups. The Yankees hope that version of Williams can return, but patience in New York wears thin — especially when history is against him.

As the Yankees continue their 2025 campaign, one thing is clear: unless Devin Williams quickly regains form, his tenure in pinstripes may be remembered for all the wrong reasons. For now, he sits with the dubious distinction of being one of the worst-performing closers in Yankees history.

As the Yankees push forward in the 2025 campaign, their bullpen — once envisioned as a strength with Williams at the helm — now faces pressing questions. Unless Devin Williams can right the ship, his time in New York may be remembered less for dominance and more for disappointment.

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