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Devin Williams Delivers Clear Statement After Yankees Sweep Royals

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 8:52 AM ET

In hindsight, maybe we jumped the gun on New York Yankees closer Devin Williams.

Plenty understandably wrote Williams off after he posted a 10.03 ERA and 13-10 K-BB ratio in his first 14 games. Williams, a two-time All-Star with the Milwaukee Brewers, took two losses in that span and eventually yielded the closer job to Luke Weaver.

The best way to quiet the haters is to play well, and Williams has frequently silenced his critics over the last month.

Williams pitched a perfect ninth inning in Thursday's 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals, helping the Yankees complete an impressive road sweep. The 2020 NL Rookie of the Year has quietly posted a 1.98 ERA across his last 13 2/3 innings, recording five saves and another five holds.

So much for Williams being unable to handle the Bronx spotlight, as he's struck out 19 and walked just two during that stretch. The Yankees are 13-2 in those 15 games, maintaining a 4 1/2 game AL East lead.

Barring another incredibly ugly stretch, Williams should remain the closer until Weaver returns from his hamstring strain.

Multiple things can be true. First off, Yankees fans shouldn't forget Williams' difficult first month, especially given the club's 9-6 record over those initial 15 games. Every loss matters more than one might think, especially if a club like the Toronto Blue Jays or Tampa Bay Rays lingers in the AL East race.

However, Williams deserves credit for turning things around and returning to his old form. We've seen plenty of players never figure things out in pinstripes—paging Joey Gallo on line one—but Williams never threw in the towel. That resilience bodes well for a team chasing its second straight pennant.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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