NEW YORK — The warning signs were there all along. When the New York Yankees acquired closer Devin Williams from Milwaukee last winter, scouts throughout the league whispered concerns about whether the two-time National League Reliever of the Year could handle the bright lights of the Bronx.
Those concerns proved prophetic Friday night at Yankee Stadium, where Williams surrendered three runs in the 10th inning of a 5-3 loss to the Houston Astros, marking his third game-ending failure in four appearances.
Now, Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake has acknowledged what many observers suspected: the pressure of pitching in New York might be affecting Williams’ performance.
“Obviously you can’t rule it out,” Blake told to NJ.com’s Randy Miller when asked if Williams’ struggles could stem from adjusting to New York in Texas on Wednesday. “Everything that happens here is amplified, so it’s harder to avoid the noise.”
Scout’s warning proves accurate
An American League scout who predicted Williams would struggle in New York didn’t mince words after watching the latest implosion.
“I knew it,” said the scout to NJ Advanced Media. “This guy is not built for New York. He just doesn’t have that makeup or mindset that you need in New York.”
The scout pointed to the fundamental difference between Milwaukee and New York expectations.
“If you come in second in Milwaukee, fans will put up with it. If you don’t win in New York, get the hell out,” the scout said. “The Yankees aren’t winning and Devin Williams is one of the reasons.”
Boone defends controversial decision
Manager Aaron Boone faced immediate criticism for turning to Williams in the crucial 10th inning, especially after the reliever had blown saves on Monday and Tuesday in Texas. But Boone explained his options were severely limited.
“We’re kind of short down there at that point,” Boone said. “You get five innings out of the starter. You’re trying to get back in it and get through, and staying away from Bednar today.”
David Bednar, acquired at the trade deadline, had thrown 42 pitches while recording a five-out save Wednesday and wasn’t available. Mark Leiter Jr. had pitched in consecutive games. That left Williams, despite his 5.73 ERA.
“You gotta use your guys,” Boone said, though he acknowledged Williams is “struggling.”
Williams takes responsibility
Williams didn’t hide from the harsh reality of his performance after allowing a wild pitch, Carlos Correa’s go-ahead single and Taylor Trammell’s two-run homer in the Yankees’ loss to the Astros.
“I’m not making pitches,” Williams said. “It’s pretty simple. I stink right now.”
The numbers support his brutal self-assessment. Williams has allowed 28 earned runs this season, two more than he surrendered in the previous three seasons combined. His signature “Airbender” changeup, once baseball’s most devastating pitch, has become hittable.
Statistical collapse defines Williams’ Yankees tenure
The statistical decline has been dramatic:
Williams’ strikeout percentage has plummeted from 43.2 percent last season to 29.9 percent this year. Opposing hitters are batting .227 against his fastball, up from .162 last year, and .194 against his changeup, nearly double the .111 average from 2024.
In his last eight appearances, Williams has surrendered nine runs in 7.2 innings for a 9.39 ERA. He’s allowed four home runs in that span after giving up just three all of last season.
Trade deadline moves send message
The Yankees’ actions at the July 31 deadline spoke volumes about their confidence in Williams. General manager Brian Cashman acquired proven closers David Bednar from Pittsburgh and Camilo Doval from San Francisco, sending away six prospects in the process.
Bednar arrived with 17 saves and had been perfect in save opportunities this season. His five-out save Wednesday, featuring five strikeouts on 42 pitches, showed the type of dominance the Yankees expected from Williams.
Blake seeks solutions
Blake believes the key to Williams’ recovery lies in his fastball command.
“When he’s had his good stretches here, it’s largely been around the fastball command that he’s been able to attack the zone with and get some strikes to get to the changeup,” Blake said. “When he’s scuffled, it’s been behind in counts, walking some guys.”
Blake noted Williams did show he could succeed in New York during a strong stretch from May 7 through July 13, when he posted a 1.90 ERA and converted all nine save opportunities.
“There’s no reason to think he can’t do that again,” Blake said. “He has the equipment to do it.”
Playoff implications mount
The loss dropped the Yankees to 61-55, leaving them 6.5 games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. They cling to the third and final wild-card spot, with Texas and Cleveland just 1.5 games behind.
Since June 13, the Yankees have gone 19-30, with bullpen failures playing a significant role in the collapse.
Francesa unleashes criticism
The situation drew harsh criticism from legendary New York radio host Mike Francesa, who accused Williams of quitting on the team during a WFAN interview Thursday.
“Williams doesn’t want to be here,” Francesa said. “He won’t be here next year, he shouldn’t be here.”
Francesa specifically cited Williams’ body language during Tuesday’s loss to Texas when left fielder Jasson Domínguez misplayed a ball.
“As soon as that ball was missed, you could see him sulking, and his shoulders dropped,” Francesa said. “He didn’t fight through it at all.”
Future remains uncertain
Williams becomes a free agent after the season, and industry sources believe he won’t return to New York. The Yankees’ trade deadline acquisitions of Bednar and Doval, both with team control beyond 2025, suggest they’re already planning for life without the ex-Brewer.
For now, Boone insists Williams remains in the mix for save opportunities, though that appears increasingly unlikely given recent performance.
“We’ve got to keep running him out there,” Boone said. “He rallied from that rough start and threw up the couple months of really consistent, outstanding work. There’s no reason to think he can’t do that again.”
Mental challenges mount
Whether the New York pressure is the primary factor or not, Williams acknowledged he’s facing unprecedented adversity.
“It’s tough,” Williams said. “It’s not something I’m used to. I really haven’t struggled like this since probably 2018, coming back from Tommy John surgery.”
Blake and Boone hope lower-leverage situations might help him rediscover his form. The plan involves finding favorable matchups where Williams can attack the zone with confidence.
“You’re trying to find the best matchups for him in the short term, so that everything matches up for him and he can attack the zone with confidence and then get him back to being who he is,” Blake said.
With 47 games remaining, the Yankees need Williams to be part of the solution rather than the problem. But Friday night’s performance, complete with cascading boos from the home crowd, suggested that transformation might not come in pinstripes.
As the scout who predicted this outcome observed: “Everyone loves his arm. His changeup, the Airbender, is one of the best pitches in the game. But I never thought he was the kind of guy who could thrive in New York and he’s proving me right.”
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