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Devin Williams (baseball)

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This article is about the baseball player. For other people named Devin Williams, see Devon Williams.

Devin Williams
New York Yankees – No. 38
Pitcher
Born: (1994-09-21) September 21, 1994 (age 30)
Florissant, Missouri, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 7, 2019, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record26–10
Earned run average1.91
Strikeouts357
Saves62
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Baseball Classic
Silver medal – second place 2023 Miami Team

Devin Terran Williams (born September 21, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers. His nickname is The Airbender.[1][2]

Williams made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Brewers and was named the National League's Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year in 2020. He was an MLB All-Star in 2022 and 2023.

Career

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Early career

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Williams attended Hazelwood West High School in Hazelwood, Missouri. He starred for the school's baseball team and committed to play college baseball for the University of Missouri.[3]

Milwaukee Brewers

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Minor leagues

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The Milwaukee Brewers selected Williams in the second round, with the 54th overall selection, of the 2013 MLB draft.[4] He signed with the Brewers for a $1.35 million signing bonus rather than enroll at the University of Missouri.[5]

During spring training in 2017, Williams tore the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season.[6] In 2019, he was chosen to represent the Brewers at the All-Star Futures Game.[7]

Major leagues

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On August 5, 2019, the Brewers selected Williams' contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[8] He made his debut on August 7 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.[9] In 13 appearances with the 2019 Brewers, Williams pitched to a 3.95 earned run average (ERA) while striking out 14 batters in 13+2⁄3 innings pitched.

Williams was named the NL Reliever of the Month for September 2020. In 13 innings, he surrendered just four hits, no runs and recorded 24 strikeouts.[10] On October 5, 2020, Williams was named MLB Reliever of the Year, capturing 12 of 17 votes. Williams had a breakout year finishing with an ERA of 0.33, surrendering just 18 hits in 27 innings and 53 strikeouts. He struck out over half the batters he faced in 22 appearances. On November 9, 2020, Williams was named the NL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first relief pitcher to win the award since Craig Kimbrel in 2011.[11] His 0.33 ERA was the lowest in a single season with at least 21 innings pitched since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913.[12]

Williams returned to the Brewers' bullpen for the 2021 season. After allowing only a single earned run in 14 relief appearances during August, he was named NL Reliever of the Month for the second time.[13] On September 29, 2021, it was announced that Williams would miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his pitching hand after drinking alcohol and punching a wall following the celebrations following the team's NL Central Division title clinch the Sunday before.[14]

The Brewers traded Josh Hader, their closer, at the 2022 trade deadline, and Williams succeeded him as their closer.[15] In October 2022, it was announced that Williams intended to represent Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[16][17]

On January 13, 2023, Williams agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million contract with the Brewers, avoiding salary arbitration.[18] He had a 1.53 ERA with 36 saves, and won the NL Reliever of the Year award for the second time.[19]

Williams signed a one-year contract for the 2024 season worth $7.25 million with a club option for the 2025 season worth $10.5 million.[20] On March 14, 2024, it was announced that Williams would miss roughly three months of action with two stress fractures in his back.[21] He was activated from the injured list on July 28.[22]

In the 2024 National League Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, Williams was brought in to close Game 3 with the Brewers leading 2–0. He allowed four runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Milwaukee eventually lost the game and their sixth straight playoff series.[23] At the end of the 2024 season, the Brewers declined the option on Williams' contract.[24]

New York Yankees

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On December 13, 2024, the Brewers traded Williams to the New York Yankees for Nestor Cortés Jr. and Caleb Durbin.[25][26]

Pitching style

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Williams has two primary pitches: a four-seam fastball and a circle changeup with screwball-like movement while rotating the ball off the ring finger during release, which is also similar to a cricket leg-spinner bowling a googly,[citation needed] but at a much faster pace of around 85 mph and with a very high spin-rate of 2,852 rpm. He also has a rarely-used cutter and sinker.[27] In 2020, due to the increased movement on the changeup, he increased its usage and often used it as a strikeout pitch.[28] He refers to his changeup as the "Airbender," a nickname coined by Rob Friedman.[29][30]

References

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  1. ^ Craig, Marc (September 24, 2020). "The legend of 'Airbender': Devin Williams' — and baseball's — most absurd pitch work". The New York Times | The Athletic. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  2. ^ Gelinas, Andrew JT (April 3, 2021). "Devin Williams: The First Airbender". longstorysport.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Hazelwood West pitcher could achieve goal in draft". June 6, 2013.
  4. ^ Meyer, Brendan (June 6, 2013). "Cubs select Mizzou's Zastryzny, Brewers select Williams in MLB Draft". stltoday.com. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  5. ^ Latsch, Nate (June 15, 2013). "Hazelwood West standout pitcher Williams signs with the Brewers | High School Baseball". stltoday.com. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  6. ^ "Devin Williams, Brewers' top pick in 2013, still has major-league dreams". Jsonline.com. August 21, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  7. ^ McCalvy, Adam (May 24, 2018). "Devin Williams picked to play in Futures Game | Milwaukee Brewers". Mlb.com. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Tom Haudricourt (August 5, 2019). "Zach Davies heads to injured list; Brewers call up relievers Jake Faria, Devin Williams". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  9. ^ Jake Crouse (August 7, 2019). "Hiura leads rout of Bucs with first multi-HR game". MLB.com. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  10. ^ "Brewers' Williams named NL Reliever of the Month". September 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "Williams first reliever to win ROY since 2011". MLB.com. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  12. ^ "Player Pitching Season & Career Stats Finder". Stathead.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  13. ^ Adler, David (September 2, 2021). "Clase, Williams tabbed top August relievers". MLB.com. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  14. ^ Matt Snyder (September 29, 2021). "Brewers' Devin Williams out for playoffs as reliever breaks hand by punching wall after NL Central celebration". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Nightengale, Bob. "Nightengale's Notebook: Brewers, irate over Josh Hader trade, have recovered that clubhouse vibe". USA TODAY.
  16. ^ "Devin Williams Named To 2023 WBC Roster". wisportsheroics.com. December 12, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "Four pitchers commit to Team USA for World Baseball Classic". MLB.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  18. ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "Williams wins 2nd NL Reliever of Year Award". MLB.com.
  20. ^ "Brewers get busy on deadline".
  21. ^ "Sources - Brewers' Devin Williams out with stress fractures". espn.com. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  22. ^ "Brewers Reinstate Devin Williams From 60-Day Injured List". mlbtraderumors.com. July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  23. ^ "Brewers lose to Mets in Game 3, Milwaukee eliminated". Associated Press. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  24. ^ "Brewers pick up Freddy Peralta's option amid flurry of moves". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 3, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Hoch, Bryan (December 13, 2024). "Yanks trade for closer Williams from Brewers". MLB.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Castillo, Jorge (December 13, 2024). "Yankees acquire closer Devin Williams from Brewers". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  27. ^ "Pitch Arsenal". baseballsavant.com. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  28. ^ "Devin Williams - Stats - Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  29. ^ "Dodgers must contend with the unhittable 'Airbender' pitch of Brewers' Devin Williams". Los Angeles Times. September 29, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  30. ^ Martell, Matt (September 26, 2020). "How One Pitch Helped Devin Williams Become MLB's Best Reliever". si.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
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