newYou can listen to Fox's news articles!
The New York Yankees thought they were finally nearing when they acquired two National Leader of the Year Devin Williams. On Sunday, they demoted him.
Coming this season, Williams owned a 1.83 ERA in his first six MLB seasons, all with the Milwaukee Brewers. That number was the second best in the majors, behind Emmanuel Craze (they struggle with them too), and his 14.3 k/9 was the fourth best in that period.
But with the Yankees, he allowed 10 runs in the first eight innings and after blowing a four-run lead and another save last week, New York announced he was robbing him from a closer role.
For sports coverage on foxnews.com, click here
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone snatches the ball from reliever pitcher Devin Williams in nine innings with the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
The story of Williams in the Tri-State area is that Williams is another victim of a larger market, which is unfamiliar territory in one or more ways.
However, his former brewer teammate of Christian Yelch disagrees.
“Devin is fine. He's one of the best closers in baseball. He's been doing it for a long time,” Yelich told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
“The small sample size ones don't actually tell a true story. You have one or two tough outings, everything is distorted. There are only a few innings early in the season, and it's hard for a few people to not walk your path,” he added. “But he's fine. I know what he's in New York. He's pitched in a lot of big games, so I'm not worried about him. He's fine.”
New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams walks off the field after being taken away from a game against the Toronto Blue Jays in nine innings at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
The Red Sox Jarrenduran stole the house, and the Guardians were surprised: “I knew I had it.”
Williams wasn't particularly excited when he had to shave his beard, throwing away the long-standing policies implemented by his father in the 1970s.
Yelich agrees that policy drops are a wise decision, but when Williams had to shave, “we all had a big laugh about it with the brewers.”
Perhaps it was added to the pressure, but for Williams, he wasn't the only catalyst for policy change, but it's safe to assume he helped push it into the end zone.
Williams is also reportedly complaining about the media presence at the Yankees clubhouse.
He seemed to grasp that this month when he went on three three-down outs in a row. But since then it has been tough to watch.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams pitches to the Pittsburgh Pirates during his nine innings at PNC Park. (Charles Leclair Imagni image)
Click here to get the Fox News app
For now, Williams is not a highly leveraged option. He's in the final season before free agency, so it's bad timing for him.
Luke Weaver, who took on the closer role last year after Clay Holmes lost his job, closed two games last week, earning a 0.00 ERA in 13 appearances this season.
Follow Fox News Digital's Sports Coverage on X and subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
