Welcome to the Bronx, Devin Williams.
The Yankees acquired the 30-year-old two-time All-Star right-handed reliever from the Brewers on Friday, sending left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortez, minor league second baseman Caleb Durbin and cash to Milwaukee.
To learn a little more about Williams, here's a look back at the highs and lows of the Bombers' newest bullpen arm.
The Hides
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A second-round pick in the 2013 amateur draft, Williams had committed to the University of Missouri, but instead decided to forego college ball to turn professional.
This decision earned the 18-year-old a $1.35 million signing bonus.
Williams pitched in the Arizona League and Pioneer League in 2013 and 2014, respectively, before reaching the Single-A level in 2015.
While developing in the Brewers' farm system, he worked as both a starter and receiver.
the show beckons
Williams, then 24, made his professional debut on August 7, 2019 against the Pirates. He pitched 1 2/3 innings, striking out three, allowing three hits and two runs, all without giving up a run.
Rookie of the Year Campaign
During the 2020 season, which was shortened due to the coronavirus, Williams posted an impressive 0.33 ERA. This was the lowest performance in a single season pitching at least 21 innings since at least 1913.
In 22 games, the relief pitcher struck out half of the batters he faced and allowed just 18 hits in 27 innings.
With Rookie of the Year honors, Williams became the first relief pitcher to win the award since Craig Kimbrel (Braves) in 2011.
He also won the first of two Trevor Hoffman Awards as the National League's best reliever that year.
new closer in town
This was a very troubling event for 2022. In the midst of a pennant race, the Brewers led the National League Central Division by three games while losing closer Josh Hader, a four-time All-Star.
This blockbuster deal was a disaster for everyone involved, except for Williams.
In his age-27 season, the relief pitcher assumed closing duties and never looked back.
In 2023, he made a career-high 36 saves and won his second Trevor Hoffman Award.
During the ensuing offseason, Milwaukee and the reliever agreed to a one-year, $7.25 million contract, the richest of his career, to avoid arbitration in 2024.
Come on, you're an all-star too.
Williams was named an All-Star in both 2022 and 2023.
Over the past two years, the closer has pitched 119 1/3 innings, allowing just 23 earned runs.
During that span, he had an impressive 1.73 ERA with 183 strikeouts.
bass
Hey!
After the Brewers won the National League Central Division title in September 2021, Williams partied a little too hard and punched a wall, breaking his pitcher's hand.
Shortly after, Milwaukee announced that its top reliever would miss the remainder of the season.
Without Williams, who pitched in 58 games this season and posted a 2.50 ERA, the Brewers would have succumbed to the LDS Braves.
polar bear bash
It was such a monumental home run that even Howie Rose, the Mets' radio voice, gave him a standing ovation.
In October of this year, with the Mets on the brink of extinction after losing 2-0 to the Brewers in the 9th inning of Game 3 of the win-or-go-home National League Wild Card Series, Pete Alonso carried the district on his shoulders. won the victory. A signature Mets moment.
He hit a line drive home run over the right-field wall against Williams, helping New York to a 4-2 victory over Milwaukee and booking an NLDS date in New York against the Phillies.
Williams' final numbers on that fateful night were 2/3 innings, three hits, and four earned runs.
In the 2024 regular season, he pitched 21 2/3 innings, allowing only one home run and three earned runs.
pitch tipper (perhaps)
Shortly after Alonso knocked out the Brewers, it came to light that Williams may have been fooling around on the hill.
JohnBoy Media posted a breakdown of Williams' pitches, showing slight differences in the way the relief pitcher grips his glove in front of changeups and fastballs.
This issue…may have tipped the scales in the Mets' favor.
