New York Yankees closer Devin Williams suffered another setback in what has been a challenging start to the 2025 season, blowing a save in a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on April 25 at Yankee Stadium, as detailed in a New York Post article titled “Yankees closer Devin Williams blows save as Jays rally in ninth.” Williams’ struggles have raised questions about his role as the team’s closer, with manager Aaron Boone offering an uncertain outlook following the latest meltdown.
Entering the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead, the Yankees handed the ball to Williams, hoping to secure the victory. However, the outing unraveled quickly. Williams failed to record a single out, allowing three runs on two hits—a leadoff double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a three-run homer by Bo Bichette—before being pulled as the Blue Jays took a 4-2 lead, which held as the final score, per MLB.com’s box score. The loss snapped Toronto’s five-game losing streak and marked Williams’ first blown save of the season, though it wasn’t his first high-profile struggle. Earlier in April, he blew a four-run lead against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing 5 runs in just 0.2 innings, as reported by YES Network’s Jack Curry.
Williams, visibly frustrated, spoke candidly to reporters after the game, telling MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch and Bill Ladson, “Nothing’s working right now… I wish there was an easy answer, but I’m not really sure. It’s not a good feeling, not to be able to get the job done for the team. They put us in a great position to win there, and I couldn’t get it done today.” Through 8 innings in 2025, Williams has posted a staggering 11.25 ERA and a 2.375 WHIP, with 9 strikeouts but 7 walks, per ESPN. His signature “Airbender” changeup, which generated a 40.2% whiff rate in 2024 with the Brewers, has been ineffective, with hitters batting .333 against it this season, per Baseball Savant.
The Yankees acquired Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2024, trading left-hander Nestor Cortes, prospect Caleb Durbin, and cash considerations, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The move was intended to replace Clay Holmes, who signed with the Mets in free agency after a 2024 season where he blew 10 saves, per MLB.com. Williams, a two-time NL Reliever of the Year (2020, 2023), signed a one-year, $8.6 million deal to avoid arbitration, per Spotrac, and was expected to solidify the back end of the bullpen. In Milwaukee, he boasted a 1.83 career ERA over 241 appearances with 68 saves, striking out 14.3 batters per 9 innings, per Baseball-Reference. However, his transition to the Bronx has been rocky, with only 4 saves in 7 opportunities and a noticeable dip in confidence.
Manager Aaron Boone, who had previously supported Williams through his early struggles, offered a less definitive stance after the Blue Jays game. When asked by the New York Post’s Dan Martin if Williams would remain the closer, Boone responded, “We’ll see. We’ll talk through that stuff. This is raw right now.” Boone elaborated to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch on April 26, saying, “I know the results haven’t been great yet. A lot of the stuff is still there. The profile of the changeup is still there. Obviously, hitters have had success. He doesn’t have the swing and miss. He has been behind in the count.” Williams’ chase rate has dropped from 37.1% in 2024 to 28.5% in 2025, and his first-pitch strike percentage is a career-low 52.3%, per FanGraphs, indicating his struggles with command.
The Yankees, who fell to 14-13 with the loss, have relied on their offense to stay competitive, with Aaron Judge hitting .275 with 7 homers and Austin Wells delivering a 3-run homer in a recent 6-4 win over the Rays, per YES Network. However, the bullpen’s inconsistency—ranking 19th in MLB with a 4.12 ERA through April 25, per ESPN—has been a concern, exacerbated by Williams’ struggles. Alternatives like Tommy Pham, who has a 2.45 ERA in 11 appearances, or Tim Hill, who threw 2 scoreless innings in relief of Williams against the Blue Jays, could see increased roles if Boone opts to make a change.
Williams’ early-season woes are a stark contrast to the pitcher who dominated in Milwaukee, where he allowed just 1 earned run in 22 games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, earning NL Rookie of the Year honors, per MLB.com. As the Yankees prepare for a series against the Baltimore Orioles starting April 30—where they’re listed as +110 underdogs, per ESPN Bet—the pressure is on Williams to rediscover his form. Boone’s noncommittal response suggests the closer role is no longer guaranteed, and with the Yankees aiming to contend in the AL East, Williams’ ability to regain his confidence and effectiveness will be critical to their postseason hopes. For now, the 30-year-old reliever remains a question mark in a bullpen searching for stability.
