Waves of applause washed over Devin Williams as he walked off the Yankee Stadium mound in the eighth inning of Game 3 in the American League Division Series, a standing ovation that contrasted sharply with the reception he’d heard after some of his rougher outings earlier in the year.
That embrace meant something to Williams, who admitted his season in pinstripes was more turbulent than he had expected. As the 31-year-old self-described “city guy” prepares to test free agency, he said he’d “definitely be open” to a reunion.
“At first it was a challenge, but I’ve grown to love being here,” Williams said. “I love this city. I love taking the [subway] train to the field every day. I really enjoyed my experience here. … There’s a lot to like about this city, but it took me some time to adjust.”
Williams spoke amid the sounds of tape ripping and boxes being packed for the offseason, following a playoff stint in which he tallied four scoreless innings -- though a pair of inherited runs scored on Nathan Lukes’ back-breaking hit in the Yankees’ final game.
His performance included four outs in that ALDS Game 3 against the Blue Jays, the only time all year he pitched more than an inning, producing a crowd reaction that Williams said “was definitely better than what I heard for much of the year.”
“Devin is great,” said teammate Tim Hill. “This game is hard. I always knew that Devin was the man. He’s been amazing. He’s always putting in the work, no matter what. And I saw that from the beginning.”
A two-time National League Reliever of the Year celebrated for his “Airbender” changeup, Williams was acquired from the Brewers in December, with the Yankees sending left-hander Nestor Cortes and infielder Caleb Durbin to Milwaukee. He immediately found himself at the center of a seismic franchise shift.
Upon his arrival at Spring Training in Tampa, Fla., Williams expressed his reluctance to shave in adherence to a club grooming policy that dated to the 1970s. The ensuing conversations led Hal Steinbrenner to announce players, coaches and other uniformed personnel would be permitted to sport “well-groomed beards” moving forward, calling the rule instituted by his father “outdated.”
Williams’ first few months were bumpy. By late April, Boone had removed Williams from the closer’s role in favor of Luke Weaver, who held the title going into the 2024 postseason and is now a potential free agent.
Showing mixed late-inning results throughout the rest of the campaign, Williams slotted as a setup reliever behind David Bednar over the season’s final two months. Williams acknowledged that his desire to remain as a closer would be a factor in free agency, adding, “I feel like it depends on the scenario.”
Williams finished strong, rattling off nine consecutive scoreless September appearances as he re-entered manager Aaron Boone’s circle of trust. He finished with a 4.79 ERA and 18 saves (in 22 chances) across 67 appearances, describing a season pockmarked by control issues as “pretty good.”
“It’s not easy, the things he went through this year,” Boone said. “You’re one of the game’s great relievers and you come over here and have some hiccups early; he definitely faced his share of adversity, but he answered it at every turn.”
Coming off a season in which he earned $8.6 million, Williams will join a relief market that could include Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez, both of whom have opt-out clauses. Other potential free agents include Raisel Iglesias, Ryan Helsley and Kenley Jansen.
Becoming a first-time father during the season added to Williams’ list of responsibilities. By the end, he said, he’d figured it all out.
“I played in the smallest market in the league [in Milwaukee], to the biggest market in the league,” Williams said. “I drove to the field every day; it took me 10 minutes to get there in Milwaukee. There’s just a lot of life stuff that’s an adjustment.
“I got here [to New York] a day before the season started and had to figure out my routine on the fly. The number of [media] people that want to talk to you, it was different. But I feel like I adjusted pretty well.”