Unspoken concerns in focus after Yankees’ public stance on Williams meltdown

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Devin Williams blew a four-run ninth-inning lead, forcing the Yankees into a shocking loss to the Rays and causing debate about his reliability.

The New York Yankees’ bullpen hit its first true bump of the 2025 season Saturday night, and it came with a gut punch. Devin Williams, one of the league’s most respected closers, blew a four-run ninth-inning lead in a stunning fashion, ultimately setting the stage for a 10-8 extra-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Yet, despite the meltdown, neither Yankees captain Aaron Judge nor manager Aaron Boone expressed any panic.

It was a night that started with a commanding 8-4 cushion heading into the ninth. For a Yankees team riding a five-game winning streak, the result felt all but certain—until it wasn’t. Williams faced a barrage of soft contact, issued a critical walk to the No. 9 hitter, and surrendered four runs, allowing the Rays to force extras. Tampa Bay sealed the win with a Jonathan Aranda walk-off homer in the 10th off Yoendrys Gómez.

Williams, visibly frustrated postgame, didn’t deflect responsibility. “Made some good pitches, made some bad ones. Not enough good ones today,” he admitted after his first blown save as a Yankee. It marked a rare stumble for a reliever known for his elite “Airbender” changeup and stellar résumé with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Numbers tell the story of Williams’ struggles

The loss exposed an uncomfortable truth: Williams’ start in pinstripes has been anything but dominant. Through nine appearances, he owns a 9.00 ERA, having allowed nine runs (eight earned) in eight innings. His strikeout rate, a career hallmark, has plummeted from 43.2% in 2024 to just 19.5% this season. Meanwhile, his walk rate has ballooned to 17.1%, and his whiff rate on the changeup—once untouchable—is now below league average.

Opposing hitters are batting .333 against Williams, a sharp departure from the .162 average he allowed on his changeup last year. On Saturday, he didn’t record a single swing-and-miss on the pitch.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m using it too much,” Williams said of the changeup. When asked if it still felt right, he tersely replied, “Feels great.”

While the Yankees could have used some swing-and-miss to avoid the unraveling, soft contact and fielding lapses also played a role. A miscue by Oswaldo Cabrera and a bloop single from Brandon Lowe fueled the collapse.

Judge and Boone show public confidence

Despite the disastrous outing, Aaron Judge showed full support for the closer.

“We went out and got him for a reason,” the Yankees captain said. “He’s the best closer in the game. We’ve got a long season. This guy’s going to save a lot of ballgames for us and help us out. I’m not worried at all.”

Judge emphasized that the clubhouse remains confident in Williams, regardless of early-season turbulence. “Everybody in this room wants him on the mound in a close game,” he added. “We’re not hitting the panic button.”

Manager Aaron Boone echoed that sentiment. “We’ve got a long way to go. It’s a little bump here early,” Boone said. “He’s got all the equipment to get through it.”

Boone, a former player familiar with New York’s pressure, knows the Bronx spotlight is especially harsh on closers. From Mariano Rivera’s legendary run to the revolving door of successors, the bar is high. But Boone believes Williams, despite the rocky start, has what it takes to thrive.

Is Williams under pressure in the Bronx?

Williams, acquired this past offseason from Milwaukee in exchange for Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin, came to New York with a 1.93 career ERA. His arrival meant a reshuffling in the bullpen, including Luke Weaver moving out of the closer role despite a dominant 2024 finish.

Weaver, incidentally, boasts a 0.00 ERA through April. But Boone and GM Brian Cashman remain committed to Williams long-term, seeing the rocky start as a phase rather than a trend.

Williams himself isn’t shying away from the challenge.

“It is one game. It’s over,” he said. “We have another game tomorrow. That’s all there is to it.”

Under the brightest lights, but dark side visible

Since arriving in New York, Williams has hinted at the adjustment curve—not just on the mound, but off it. He noted the sheer volume of media coverage and even voiced discomfort with the Yankees’ facial-hair policy in spring training. Transitioning from Milwaukee to the Bronx is more than just changing uniforms; it’s entering baseball’s brightest spotlight.

And yet, both Judge and Boone believe Williams will emerge stronger. Boone compared the situation to the trials faced by every great closer.

“That’s part of being a closer in this league and one as good as he’s been,” Boone said.

The Yankees, now 13-8 on the season, know the season’s early weeks are no place for overreaction. The loss snapped a five-game win streak, but the team remains in good shape atop the AL East.

Williams will have more chances, and the Yankees will need him. His track record is elite. His talent is undeniable. What’s now needed is adjustment — mechanical, mental, and perhaps strategic — to return him to the shutdown force they traded for.

For now, the message from the clubhouse is clear: no panic. Just belief.

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