| Devin Williams | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.png) Williams with theNew York Yankees in 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Free agent | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1994-09-21)September 21, 1994 (age 31) Florissant, Missouri, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| August 7, 2019, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 31–16 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 2.45 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 465 | ||||||||||||||
| Saves | 86 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Medals
| |||||||||||||||
Devin Terran Williams (born September 21, 1994), nicknamed "the Airbender",[1][2] is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. Internationally, Williamsrepresents the United States.
Williams made his MLB debut in 2019 with theMilwaukee Brewers and was named theNational League'sRookie of the Year andReliever of the Year in 2020. He was anMLB All-Star in 2022 and 2023. Following the 2024 season, the Brewers traded him to theNew York Yankees ofMajor League Baseball (MLB).
Williams was born September 21, 1994, inSt. Louis, Missouri,[3] and he was raised by single mother Angela Norton in the northern part ofSt. Louis County.[4]
A fan ofCristiano Ronaldo, Williams wanted to playsoccer full-time as a child, but his grandfather insisted he playbaseball as well, and he found more success with the latter.[5][6] In his final season withHazelwood West High School, Williams had a 6–2win–loss record and 1.15earned run average (ERA),striking out 101 batters andwalking only 28.[7] Hisfastball speed regularly reached 92 to 94 mph (148 to 151 km/h) that year, and the pitch was supplemented with aslider and acircle changeup.[8]
TheMilwaukee Brewers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) selected Williams in the second round, with the 54th overall pick, of the2013 MLB draft.[9] At the time, he had committed to playingcollege baseball for theMissouri Tigers, but Williams signed with the Brewers on June 16 for a $1.35 millionsigning bonus.[10] After signing with the team, Williams was assigned to theRookie-levelArizona League (AZL)Brewers to begin his professional career.[11] In 13 games there, including six starts, Williams was 1–5 with a 3.38 ERA, striking out 39 batters in34+2⁄3innings pitched.[12]
Duringspring training in 2017, Williams tore theulnar collateral ligament of the elbow. He underwentTommy John surgery and missed the entire season.[13] In 2019, he was chosen to represent the Brewers at theAll-Star Futures Game.[14]
On August 5, 2019, the Brewers selected Williams' contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[15] He made his debut on August 7 against thePittsburgh Pirates atPNC Park.[16] In 13 appearances with the 2019 Brewers, Williams pitched to a 3.95earned run average (ERA) while striking out 14 batters in13+2⁄3innings pitched.
Williams was named theNL Reliever of the Month for September 2020. In 13 innings, he surrendered just four hits, no runs and recorded 24 strikeouts.[17] On October 5, 2020, Williams was namedMLB Reliever of the Year, capturing 12 of 17 votes. Williams had a breakout year finishing with an ERA of 0.33, surrendering just 18 hits in 27 innings and 53 strikeouts. He struck out over half the batters he faced in 22 appearances. On November 9, Williams was named theNL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first relief pitcher to win the award sinceCraig Kimbrel in 2011.[18] His 0.33 ERA was the lowest in a single season with at least 21 innings pitched sinceearned runs became an official statistic in 1913.[19]
Williams returned to the Brewers' bullpen for the 2021 season. After allowing only a single earned run in 14 relief appearances during August, he was named NL Reliever of the Month for the second time.[20] On September 29, 2021, it was announced that Williams would miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his pitching hand after drinking alcohol and punching a wall following the celebrations following the team'sNL Central Division title clinch the Sunday before.[21]
The Brewers tradedJosh Hader, theircloser, at the 2022 trade deadline, and Williams succeeded him as their closer.[22] In October 2022, it was announced that Williams intended to represent Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[23][24]
On January 13, 2023, Williams agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million contract with the Brewers, avoiding salary arbitration.[25] He had a 1.53 ERA with 36 saves, and won the NL Reliever of the Year award for the second time.[26]
Williams signed a one-year contract for the 2024 season worth $7.25 million with a club option for the 2025 season worth $10.5 million.[27] On March 14, 2024, it was announced that Williams would miss roughly three months of action with two stress fractures in his back.[28] He was activated from theinjured list on July 28.[29] In 22 appearances for Milwaukee, Williams logged a 1.25 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 14 saves over21+2⁄3 innings pitched.
In the2024 National League Wild Card Series against theNew York Mets, Williams was brought in to close Game 3 with the Brewers leading 2–0. He gave up four runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Milwaukee eventually lost the game and their sixth straight playoff series.[30] At the end of the 2024 season, the Brewers declined the option on Williams' contract.[31]
On December 13, 2024, the Brewers traded Williams to theNew York Yankees in exchange forNestor Cortes,Caleb Durbin, and cash considerations, with the expectation that he would be the team's closer.[32][33]
Williams made his Yankees debut on March 4, 2025, when he closed out a 12–3 win over thePhiladelphia Phillies during spring training.[34] On April 27,managerAaron Boone announced that Williams was demoted from the closer role.[35] With him showing improvement andLuke Weaver getting injured, Williams was, in early June, re-inserted as the closer.[36] In 67 appearances for New York, Williams logged a 4.79 ERA with 90 strikeouts and 18 saves over 62 innings pitched.
Williams has two primary pitches: afour-seam fastball and acircle changeup withscrewball-like movement while rotating the ball off the ring finger during release, which is also similar to acricketleg-spinner bowling agoogly,[citation needed] but at a much faster pace of around 85 mph and with a very high spin-rate of 2,852 rpm. He also has a rarely-used cutter and sinker.[37] In 2020, due to the increased movement on the changeup, he increased its usage and often used it as a strikeout pitch.[38] He refers to his changeup as the "Airbender," anickname coined byRob Friedman.[39][40]
