{"id":104649,"date":"2025-07-23T19:50:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T23:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=104649"},"modified":"2025-07-23T19:50:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T23:50:35","slug":"devin-williams-rebounding-yankees-closer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/23\/devin-williams-rebounding-yankees-closer\/","title":{"rendered":"First-Year Yankees Reliever Re-Emerging as Dominant Closer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thanks to a combination of injuries and personal skids, the New York Yankees’ bullpen has been one of the worst in MLB<\/a> over the past month. However, one Yankees reliever in particular has been a silent killer in the later innings after a horrid start to the season. Of course, that reliever is closer Devin Williams<\/a>, whom New York acquired last offseason<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On May 5, after his 14th appearance, Williams’ ERA was a staggering 10.03 after giving up three earned runs to the San Diego Padres. Now, after pitching in 38 1\/3 innings over 42 games, the former Reliever of the Year winner has lowered his ERA to just 4.70. This means that since May 5, Williams has a 2.36 ERA, 38 strikeouts, and just five walks.<\/p>\n

\"Devin
May 2, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Devin Williams Finally Emerging as Dominant Yankees Closer<\/h2>\n

Timely Recovery<\/h3>\n

Ironically, the Yankees’ bullpen was performing much better in April and May, when Williams was going through perhaps the worst stretch of his career<\/a>. Now, the roles have reversed: Williams is putting up excellent numbers while the rest of New York’s ‘pen is struggling and costing them games.<\/p>\n

Many pitchers that come to New York from smaller-market teams struggle to adjust to the intense pressure that comes with being a Yankee. Williams seemed to be no different; it was simply a question of whether he could regain his dominance or falter under the lights. At this point in the season, it’s looking like he’s once again one of the best closers in baseball<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Great, But Not the Best<\/h3>\n

Still, as much as Williams has improved over the past few months, he has not been the same pitcher that he was in Milwaukee. Other than his first stint in the majors in 2019, he has posted a single season in which his ERA is over 2.00 (2.50 in 2021). There is virtually no chance for this streak to continue, seeing that his 20 earned runs this season have already surpassed his career-high. Even his expected ERA sits at just 3.41, according to Baseball Savant<\/a>. As good as he’s been over this bounce-back stretch, he still hasn’t been “unhittable,” which he practically was throughout the past few seasons with the Brewers.<\/p>\n

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Devin Williams over his last 27 outings:<\/p>\n

2.45 ERA | 36.7% K% | 2.23 FIP | 0.74 WHIP<\/p>\n

Yeah… THIS is the elite closer we were promised\ud83d\udd25#Yankees<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/So3sd7Ng4y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) July 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n