The Yankees star Devin Williams has spent years generously sharing the secrets of his iconic changeup, The Airbender, with curious teammates. Yet, despite his efforts, no one has managed to replicate the pitch that has made him one of baseball’s most dominant relievers. “I haven’t seen anyone replicate it,” Williams admitted to ESPN.

Devin Williams: A closer built for the bright lights of New York

AP
Since his MLB debut in 2019, Williams has been a standout closer, powered by his extraordinary changeup. His success with the Milwaukee Brewers led to a surprising offseason trade to the New York Yankees. With the Brewers unwilling to meet his likely high free-agency price next winter, they dealt him for left-hander Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin. For at least one season, Williams will fill the Yankees’ closer role, evoking comparisons to Mariano Rivera, whose famed cutter once mystified batters.

“Those are big shoes to fill,” Williams said of Rivera. “He kind of ruined it for everybody else. After him, it’s hard to live up to those expectations. But at the end of the day, I can only be me.”

Being himself has proven more than enough. Devin Williams, 30, won the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year with a staggering 0.33 ERA in 22 games, followed by All-Star nods in 2022 and 2023. Despite an injury that sidelined him for much of last season, he returned with a 1.25 ERA and converted 14 of 15 save opportunities. Since 2020, his 40.8% strikeout rate ranks second among relievers, his 1.70 ERA is also second, and opponents have hit a league-low .144 against him.

The Airbender remains central to his success. Williams throws the pitch with a standard changeup grip, yet its combination of high spin rate, late break, and unique movement make it unlike any other. “It’s not the grip,” Williams explained. “It’s the way my wrist works. I’m a really good pronator, not supinator. That’s why my slider sucked.”

Williams’ transformation began in 2019 when he switched from a two-seam to a four-seam changeup grip. During a spring training session, former teammate Trent Grisham noticed the improved spin, inspiring Williams to refine the pitch further. By the 2020 COVID-shortened season, The Airbender was fully unleashed, baffling hitters with its screwball-like movement.

Interestingly, Williams sees a resemblance to his changeup in Yankees reliever Luke Weaver’s pitch. Weaver’s breakout season in 2024 helped the Yankees reach the World Series, which Williams watched as a fan during a vacation in New York. Over 10 days, he explored the city, indulging in local staples like bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. “I’m a city guy,” he said. “I love to immerse myself in the culture.”

Now, Williams joins Weaver to anchor the Yankees’ bullpen, aiming to bring a championship back to the Bronx for the first time since Rivera’s reign. The Yankees finalized his $8.6 million arbitration deal last week, solidifying their bet on one of baseball’s most unique talents. With The Airbender at the ready, Williams is poised to take on the pressures of New York and its storied expectations.