The 2025 season is barely underway, but anxiety is already mounting in the Yankees’ bullpen. The club’s high-profile winter acquisition, closer Devin Williams, has stumbled out of the gate, creating ripples of concern throughout the organization and fan base.
“I’m still figuring stuff out,” Williams said quietly at his locker following Wednesday’s narrow 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. “I haven’t felt like 100 percent myself up to this point.”
What should have been a straightforward ninth inning after Max Fried’s masterful seven-inning shutout performance and Aaron Judge‘s insurance runs quickly transformed into a nail-biting scenario few Yankees supporters anticipated.
Elite closer suddenly looks vulnerable
Entering with what appeared to be a comfortable four-run cushion, Williams immediately found himself in trouble. His command wavered as he issued two walks, surrendered a pair of hits, and uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Detroit to score. When Zach McKinstry connected for a two-run single that narrowed the lead to a single run, skipper Aaron Boone had seen enough.
With tension mounting and two outs recorded, Boone summoned Mark Leiter Jr., who secured the final out and preserved the win. The storyline, however, had already been written: Williams, once considered untouchable in late-game situations, is struggling to find his footing.
Troubling statistics raises red flags
The numbers paint a worrisome picture for Williams, who currently sports an alarming 12.00 ERA and 3.00 WHIP in four outings. He has yet to deliver a clean inning since donning pinstripes and has surrendered four earned runs—matching his total from the first 36.2 innings of his 2022 campaign.
For perspective, the 29-year-old reliever entered this season with an exceptional career 1.70 ERA and 40.8% strikeout rate since his 2019 debut, ranking second among all qualified relievers in that timeframe.
Though concerning, Williams has weathered early-season turbulence before. In 2022, he allowed four earned runs in his initial four appearances before rebounding with a stellar 1.93 ERA for the remainder of the year. He followed with a 1.53 ERA in 2023 and an even more impressive 1.25 ERA last season before a back stress fracture prematurely ended his campaign.
Boone maintains his composure, at least in public forums.
“Look, I’m confident this is going to be a distant memory as we continue to move forward,” he told reporters. “He’s not that far off. Just a little better strike throwing. Once he starts dictating counts, you’re going to see it.”
Diminished velocity compounds concerns
Perhaps most troubling is Williams’ fastball velocity drop. Last season, his heater averaged 94.7 mph. This year, it’s registering just 93.2 mph according to Statcast measurements. For a pitcher who relies on precise location and his signature “Airbender” changeup, every small velocity decrease amplifies the consequences of misplaced pitches.
Batters appear more comfortable against him, adjusting to his pitch sequencing and capitalizing on location mistakes. During Wednesday’s game, even with Austin Wells setting up perfectly on the outer half, Williams missed badly inside, serving McKinstry a hittable pitch that should have been unhittable.
“Fastball and changeup need to be better location-wise,” Williams admitted. “If I’m locating, the problems solve themselves.”
Yankees search for Williams’ answers
Williams recently missed several games while on paternity leave, sitting out three of the team’s first dozen contests. He maintains that his issues aren’t physical, instead pointing to timing inconsistencies, rust, and disrupted rhythm.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve started a season off on the wrong foot,” he said. “All you can do is keep working.”
However, the Yankees need results, not just reassurances. With a rotation already missing Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, the bullpen’s importance is magnified. In a competitive American League, blown saves could prove extremely costly.
Management faces tough decisions
Boone now confronts a challenging dilemma: continue trusting Williams in high-leverage situations, hoping he rediscovers his form, or temporarily reassign him to lower-pressure scenarios. Luke Weaver has impressed in the setup role and could potentially fill in, while Leiter Jr. has demonstrated poise in crucial moments.
Williams’ reputation and contract likely secure his closer position for now, but patience has its limits. Yankees supporters understand all too well how late-inning instability can derail championship aspirations.
“Devin is the best closer in the league,” Leiter Jr. said in Williams’ defense. “No question about it.”
This sentiment resonates throughout the clubhouse, but performance metrics and game outcomes suggest a different reality.
Patience or panic?
The elite talent clearly remains. Williams’ changeup continues to rank among baseball’s most devastating pitches, and his track record speaks volumes. However, if location issues and diminished velocity persist, the organization may need to intervene—whether by adjusting his mechanics, modifying his workload, or temporarily redefining his role.
In the Bronx, hope centers on Williams’ proven ability to overcome adversity. He’s bounced back from early struggles before, often emerging stronger. But with the AL East shaping up as intensely competitive and bullpen depth already tested, patience becomes an increasingly scarce commodity.
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