Yankees' Former Closer Showed Why He is Not Pitching the Ninth Now

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 28, 2025 10:19 AM ET

Devin Williams finally got his shot back as the Yankees’ closer Tuesday night in Anaheim. And it reminded everyone asking when he would be back in the ninth inning, exactly why he is not there every night. Williams gave up two runs and three hits in the ninth inning, but somehow, he still got the job done and locked down a 3-2 win over the Angels.

After striking out pinch-hitter Logan O’Hoppe on a popup to end it, Williams just looked relieved to be out of the situation. No fire or swagger, just a look of "Thank God."

After, Williams was defiant and did not seem to think there was an issue.

“At the end of the day, we won. That’s all that matters," Williams told reporters.

The Yankees brought Williams in from Milwaukee last winter, expecting big things, but the bright lights of New York haven’t made it easy. His ERA ballooned to 11.25 after blowing a save against Toronto in late April, costing him the closer’s job. But over the past three weeks, he’s been sharp, with eight straight scoreless appearances.

With Luke Weaver doing the heavy lifting the previous days and a 3-0 lead, manager Aaron Boone trusted Williams again for the save.

Williams gave up a leadoff homer and a couple of hits before weathering the storm.

Boone said he wasn’t worried after the game.

“You bend, don’t break,” he said. “He’s throwing the ball really well. They got a few good swings, but that’s baseball.”

Still, those questions about when Williams will move back into the closer role will likely stop now.

Williams’ struggles come down to command issues and a dip in his signature pitch effectiveness. His fastball velocity remains strong, but he’s often missing his spots, leading to an uptick in walks and hard contact. His strikeout rate has dipped compared to previous years, and his walk rate is up, putting more runners on base and increasing pressure in high-leverage situations.

When Williams can’t locate his pitches, the results tend to spiral, and Boone knows that. The Yankees will walk a delicate balance of trying to get some ninth-inning value out of Williams and protect their wins.

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

More must-reads: