The New York Yankees made several notable acquisitions during the offseason, including Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers. Having established himself as one of the elite relievers in the game, Williams was expected to be the shutdown closer for the 27-time champions in his final season before reaching free agency.
However, the 30-year-old right-hander is struggling to adapt to his new environment, having made a very difficult start to his tenure in New York thus far. Williams recorded another blown save loss in the opening encounter of the three-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.
Devin Williams Takes Responsibility For Blown Save Loss against Blue Jays
Devin Williams was brought in to close out the game in the top of the ninth inning with the Yankees carrying a 2-1 lead. He gave up a single to lead-off hitter George Springer before advancing him to second base with a hit by pitch on Andres Gimenez.
Alejandro Kirk then hit a fly ball to center field to drive in two runs for the Blue Jays to put the team ahead on the scoreboard. Williams was removed from the game at that stage without recording an out, receiving loud boos from the home fans as he exited the field.
His replacement, Mark Leiter Jr., could not prevent Addison Barger from adding an insurance run to the lead before he recorded three straight outs. Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman went on the record with a relatively easy save despite giving up a double to Ben Rice, as the Yankees crumbled to a disappointing 4-2 home defeat.
“Nothing’s working right now,” said an extremely dejected Williams to YES Network after the game. “All I can do is continue to work and, hopefully, get some better results.”
“I wish there was an easy answer, but I’m not really sure [what the problem is]. It’s not a good feeling not to be able to get the job done for the team. We put us in a great position to win, and I couldn’t get it done today.”
Manager Aaron Boone with @M_Marakovits & the media following tonight's game.
#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/HEF1FGllgp
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 26, 2025
Williams admitted that adapting to life in New York has been a massive challenge. Yet he refuses to hold it accountable for the dramatic drop in his performance level.
“There’s a lot of adjustments I’ve had to make. New-life stuff that’s going on. But, at the end of the day, I’m here to get outs. I’m not really doing that right now. So, it doesn’t really matter.”
Friday’s loss against the Blue Jays was the first blown save for Williams in a Yankees uniform, while he holds a 0-2 record for the season with four successful saves. He has made 10 appearances on the mound so far but has only posted eight innings of work while giving up 12 base hits, 10 earned runs, and seven walks.