NEW YORK — All around Devin Williams was a strange sound. All year, the once-mighty reliever was mercilessly booed by New York Yankees fans, weary of watching him melt down. Yet, all of a sudden, and with the season on the line, he had become the object of their affection — and they let him know it with raucous cheers as he walked off the mound. The roar ceased only when he disappeared into the dugout.
“It’s nice to feel appreciated sometimes,” Williams said. “It was definitely better than what I’ve had for much of the year.”
Williams’ clutch performance was as big as any assist the Yankees received in Tuesday’s 9-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in a do-or-die Game 3 in the American League Division Series — outside of the majestic three-run home run Aaron Judge hit to tie the game in the fourth inning.
Williams served as the final bridge to closer David Bednar, who worked a five-out save.
Williams did it by giving the Yankees something he hadn’t all year: four outs. He hadn’t thrown more than one full inning in a game since Sept. 1, 2023.
“This is the time of year you’re going to need it every now and then,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Devin Williams gets a standing ovation from Yankees fans pic.twitter.com/J7SDY3b5m8
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 8, 2025
Williams’ effort was part of a Herculean showing from the bullpen, which rescued the Yankees after starting pitcher Carlos Rodón coughed up six earned runs and lasted just 2 1/3 innings. Fernando Cruz (1 1/3 innings), Camilo Doval (one inning), Tim Hill (1 1/3 innings), Williams and Bednar combined to strike out nine batters while walking none and giving up just three hits.
The group’s performance was particularly stellar considering the Yankees’ bullpen posted a terrible 4.64 ERA after the trade deadline and had experienced moments of shakiness in the playoffs.
“I think it was an incredible effort by everyone,” Williams said. “Everyone stepped up and kind of got as many outs as you could tonight. It was a great performance by everybody, and (we’ve) got to do it again tomorrow.”
“They were awesome,” Boone said.
But it was especially a huge night for Williams, who had been mostly a bust since the Yankees acquired him last December from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade for fan-favorite Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin. Before joining the Yankees, Williams had a career 1.83 ERA in 241 games and a reputation for being one of the sport’s best late-inning arms.
But Williams drew ire from fans who weren’t happy he became the face of the Yankees changing their facial hair policy in spring training, before he recorded 4.79 ERA and 18 saves in 67 appearances.
It didn’t help that Williams had been brought in as part of the Yankees’ pivot after losing Juan Soto in free agency, and most of their other moves had been successful, with Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Max Fried proving to be key offseason additions.
Some of that was bad luck. Williams’ .198 expected batting average against placed him in the top 96th percentile of pitchers, according to Baseball Savant. But some of it was Williams having trouble locating his pitching, including his vaunted “Airbender” changeup, and adjusting to playing in New York City.
“I mean, that’s baseball sometimes,” Williams said. “You hope that the math starts mathing, and stuff starts to go your way on balls that are typically outs and that balls start finding gloves. Just trusting in the work and continuing to be prepared for any situation.”
Williams’ season started to turn around in September, and he finished with nine straight appearances without giving up an earned run.
“Devin is great,” Hill said. “I even knew that through his struggles. This game is hard, but I always knew that Devin was the man.”
“It’s nice to feel appreciated sometimes,” Devin Williams said of the cheers from fans after his scoreless appearance helped the Yankees finish off the Blue Jays to win Game 3. (Ishika Samant / Getty Images)
Another positive for the Yankees? Williams threw only 26 pitches Tuesday. He should be available to try to help New York fend off elimination again in Game 4 on Wednesday night.
“I was honestly expecting to go a little further than I did,” Williams said. “But it’s all hands on deck right now. So, we’re just trying to push it and get it to the next guy.”
Williams took over in the seventh with a three-run lead, and some notice from Boone that extra work could be required. Williams said the pair had spoken briefly earlier in the day about how the Yankees might need him to go longer than an inning.
He started off by getting the red-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to pop out to second base. At that point, Guerrero was 2-for-2 with a two-run home run in the first inning, a single and an intentional walk. Then he forced Yankee killer Alejandro Kirk to fly out to center field before striking out Daulton Varsho swinging on a high 97.1 mph fastball. He needed 17 pitches to get through the frame.
When Williams got back to the dugout, Boone immediately told him he would face Ernie Clement to start the eighth. Williams was ready, but he allowed a single through the left side to Clement. Still, Boone kept him in the game to face Anthony Santander, whom Williams struck out swinging with a 95.9 mph fastball right down the middle.
After Boone visited the mound to replace him with Bednar, Williams walked off the mound to cheers. He was expressionless. He knew his season had been up and down. He likely knew that fans could be fickle and that if he melts down again, they will drown him in those familiar boos.
“I keep showing up,” he said, “and I’m getting the results I want right now.”
