In a surprising twist this offseason, Devin Williams, the former Milwaukee Brewers closer, found himself heading to the New York Yankees instead of the expected Los Angeles Dodgers. The move not only shifts Williams’ career trajectory but also bolsters the Yankees’ bullpen as they aim for another deep postseason run.

However, it began well before he could even think of his trade with the Yankees. Williams, 30, is no stranger to the allure of big cities. Having grown up near St. Louis, he was accustomed to urban life, but New York City presents an entirely different scale. Oddly enough, fate seemed to prepare him for the transition. Following the Brewers’ early playoff exit in October, Williams skipped his usual international vacation and spent 10 days in New York City.

“I’m excited,” Williams shared during his introductory Zoom call. “I usually travel abroad after the season, but this year, I stayed in the U.S. and spent 10 days in New York. I loved exploring the museums and restaurants. It felt like I barely scratched the surface.”

He explored iconic institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the American Museum of Natural History while sampling the city’s renowned culinary scene. Now, with his new home in the Bronx, he’ll have plenty of time to finish that tourist checklist.

Williams’ postseason heartbreak to Yankees dreams

Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press
Despite being one of the most dominant closers in recent seasons, Williams’ postseason track record has been rocky. His October struggles came to a head when he surrendered a crucial home run to Pete Alonso in Game 3 of the wild-card round against the Mets this past season.

“We’re all aware of how things turned out,” Williams admitted. “I wish it had gone differently, but I’ll never shy away from those moments. I want the ball.”

With only three postseason innings under his belt, Williams sees room for growth. “I haven’t had much opportunity yet, but I’m looking forward to changing that,” he added. The Yankees expect him to anchor their bullpen and hope he becomes a name mentioned alongside legendary Yankee closers like Mariano Rivera and Aroldis Chapman.

Yankees trade caught him off guard

Williams admitted that a trade from Milwaukee seemed inevitable, given the Brewers’ organizational approach. However, he was initially led to believe he would land with the Dodgers.

“That’s what I was being told,” he said. “The Yankees snuck in there under the table and got the deal done.”

Reflecting on the last-minute surprise, he expressed enthusiasm about joining baseball’s most storied franchise. “It’s a tremendous honor. There’s no bigger team in baseball, so I’m very happy to be here.”

Signature airbender pitch

NYT
A key factor in Williams’ success is his devastating changeup, a pitch that has evolved into his signature weapon. He credits a spring training session in 2019 against former teammate Trent Grisham for refining the pitch.

“He told me he could see the difference in the spin,” Williams recalled.

The COVID-19 pandemic further fueled his development. With baseball on hold in 2020, Williams experimented with the pitch at home, increasing its spin and slowing its velocity to maximize movement.

“I started realizing if I spun it more and threw it slower, I got way more movement,” he explained.

The results were undeniable. According to Baseball Savant, Williams’ changeup generated a career-best 48.8% whiff rate last season. His dominance earned him the National League Reliever of the Year Award in 2020.

No back-injury baggage

Though back injuries limited Williams to 21 2/3 innings last season, he’s confident he has fully recovered. “I’ve had no issues since I returned last year,” he stated.

The Yankees believe Williams will thrive under the intense New York spotlight, a challenge he eagerly embraces.

“I thrive off the energy. I can feed off the fans,” he said, looking forward to pitching in the electric atmosphere of Yankee Stadium.

Despite past postseason disappointments, Williams’ competitive drive remains unshaken.

“Every failure I’ve ever had sticks with me, but it’s not something that holds me back. If anything, it pushes me forward.”

As the Yankees prepare for the 2025 season, Williams’ addition signals a bold step toward reclaiming October glory. And while his path to the Bronx may have been unexpected, he’s ready to make his mark in pinstripes — one strikeout at a time.

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