Devin Williams Bio
Devin Terran Williams is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on September 21, 1994, in St. Louis, Missouri, he made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Milwaukee Brewers and quickly established himself as one of the National League’s most dominant relief pitchers. He was named the NL Rookie of the Year in 2020 and has been selected as an MLB All-Star twice. A two-time NL Reliever of the Year, Williams has built a reputation for a devastating changeup known as the Airbender.
Early Life and Background
Devin Terran Williams was born on September 21, 1994, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was raised by his single mother, Angela Norton, in the northern part of St. Louis County. Growing up in the St. Louis area, Williams was surrounded by baseball culture, but as a child he actually wanted to play soccer full-time. He was a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and spent much of his early athletic life on the pitch.
His grandfather insisted that he also play baseball, and it was on the diamond that Williams found the most success. He attended Hazelwood West High School, where in his final season he posted a 6–2 win–loss record and a 1.15 earned run average. He struck out 101 batters while walking only 28, and his fastball was clocked regularly at 92 to 94 mph. That performance convinced Major League scouts that he was ready for the next level.
Path to Professional Baseball
Coming out of high school, Williams was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the 2013 MLB draft. He had committed to playing college baseball for the Missouri Tigers, but the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the second round with the 54th overall pick. He signed with the Brewers on June 16, 2013, for a $1.35 million signing bonus and was assigned to the rookie-level Arizona League Brewers to begin his career.
His rise through the minors was slowed when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow during spring training in 2017. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season, but he returned healthy and was eventually chosen to represent the Brewers at the 2019 All-Star Futures Game. That summer, his strong minor-league performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues.
Devin Williams Career
Early Career (2013–2019)
Williams spent six seasons in the Brewers’ minor-league system, working as a starter before transitioning to the bullpen. In his first professional stint with the rookie-level Arizona League Brewers, he appeared in 13 games and struck out 39 batters in 34⅔ innings. Even with the injury setback in 2017, the organization remained patient with his development.
On August 5, 2019, the Brewers selected Williams’ contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his debut on August 7, 2019, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. In 13 appearances that September, he posted a 3.95 ERA and struck out 14 batters in 13⅔ innings, giving Milwaukee a glimpse of the high-upside reliever he was about to become.
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2019–2024)
Williams’ first full big-league season was 2020, and it turned out to be historic. He was named the National League Reliever of the Month for September 2020 after surrendering just four hits and no runs in 13 innings, with 24 strikeouts. On October 5, 2020, he was named NL Reliever of the Year, capturing 12 of 17 first-place votes. He finished the shortened campaign with a 0.33 ERA, allowing only 18 hits in 27 innings while striking out 53. On November 9, 2020, he was named NL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first relief pitcher to win the award since Craig Kimbrel in 2011. His 0.33 ERA was the lowest single-season mark for any pitcher with at least 21 innings since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913.
Williams followed up with another strong year in 2021, earning his second NL Reliever of the Month award in August. However, on September 29, 2021, the Brewers announced that he would miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his pitching hand in a moment of frustration following the team’s NL Central Division title celebration. He returned healthy in 2022 and was named an MLB All-Star for the first time.
In 2022, after the Brewers traded longtime closer Josh Hader at the trade deadline, Williams stepped into the closer role and thrived. He agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million contract in January 2023 to avoid arbitration and responded with a 1.53 ERA, 36 saves, and his second NL Reliever of the Year award. He was also named an All-Star for the second time. Back issues limited him in 2024, but he still posted a 1.25 ERA with 14 saves before being shut down. His final appearance in a Brewers uniform was a tough one, as he surrendered four runs in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the 2024 National League Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, including a three-run homer by Pete Alonso.
New York Yankees Era (2025)
On December 13, 2024, the Brewers traded Williams to the New York Yankees in exchange for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, and cash considerations, with the expectation that he would serve as the team’s closer. He made his Yankees debut on March 4, 2025, closing out a 12–3 spring-training win over the Philadelphia Phillies. After some early-season struggles, manager Aaron Boone announced on April 27, 2025, that Williams had been demoted from the closer role. He later regained the job in early June when Luke Weaver went down with an injury.
In 67 appearances for New York, Williams logged a 4.79 ERA with 90 strikeouts and 18 saves over 62 innings pitched. The Yankees declined to bring him back after the season, opening the door for his next chapter in free agency.
New York Mets Era (2025–Present)
On December 3, 2025, Williams signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the New York Mets in free agency. The deal, which runs through the 2028 season, reflects his standing as one of the premier relief pitchers in the sport. The Mets installed him as a high-leverage arm in the back end of their bullpen, pairing him with a championship-caliber roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Williams relies on two primary pitches: a four-seam fastball and a circle changeup with screwball-like movement. The changeup, which he throws around 85 mph with an elite spin rate of 2,852 rpm, dives sharply away from same-handed hitters and has become one of the most devastating out-pitches in baseball. He also mixes in a rarely-used cutter and sinker. He calls the changeup the Airbender, a nickname coined by pitching analyst Rob Friedman. In 2020, he leaned heavily on the changeup as a strikeout pitch and used it to dominate National League hitters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Williams’ 0.33 ERA in 2020 is the lowest single-season mark in MLB history for any pitcher with at least 21 innings pitched since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913. He is the first relief pitcher to win the NL Rookie of the Year award since Craig Kimbrel in 2011, and he is a two-time NL Reliever of the Year (2020, 2023) as well as a two-time All-Star (2022, 2023). The dramatic four-run ninth inning he allowed in Game 3 of the 2024 Wild Card Series against the Mets is among the most memorable playoff collapses in recent Brewers history.
Devin Williams Career Wins and Performances
Across his MLB career with the Brewers, Yankees, and Mets, Devin Williams has piled up strikeouts, saves, and awards as one of baseball’s most reliable late-inning relievers. His combination of a high-spin fastball and a league-best changeup has made him a matchup nightmare for opposing hitters.
Major League Highlights
In six MLB seasons, Williams has been named an All-Star twice, an NL Reliever of the Year twice, and the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year. He owns a career ERA under 2.00 in seasons where he has been healthy, and he has recorded more than 100 strikeouts in multiple campaigns despite pitching exclusively in relief. He was a driving force behind the Brewers’ 2021 NL Central Division title and their run to the 2024 postseason.
Other Performances
Williams was selected to represent the Brewers at the 2019 All-Star Futures Game and committed to play for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the minor leagues, he was a key piece of several playoff-caliber Brewers affiliates before his promotion in 2019. His dominant 2024 regular season, when he was on the mound, was a reminder of his elite ceiling.
Devin Williams Family
Family Background and Lineage
Devin Williams was raised in the northern part of St. Louis County by his single mother, Angela Norton. His grandfather played an important role in his upbringing and was instrumental in steering him toward baseball when he wanted to focus on soccer as a child. That push from his grandfather helped set him on the path to a professional pitching career.
Personal Life
Williams remains closely connected to his St. Louis roots and his family. He is active on social media, where fans can follow him on X at dtrainn_23 and on Instagram at _dvn23. Off the field, he has continued to honor the influence of his mother and grandfather in shaping his career.
2025 Season Performance
Williams split the 2025 season between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets after signing a three-year, $51 million contract with the Mets on December 3, 2025. With the Yankees, he opened the year as the closer but was briefly removed from the role in late April after some inconsistent outings. He reclaimed ninth-inning duties in early June when Luke Weaver suffered an injury and finished his Yankees tenure with 18 saves, 90 strikeouts, and a 4.79 ERA in 67 appearances over 62 innings.
After the season, Williams hit free agency and quickly became one of the most sought-after relievers on the market. His decision to sign with the Mets put him back in the National League and gave him a chance to compete for a championship in a deep, star-studded bullpen. The contract, which runs through 2028, locks him in as a centerpiece of New York’s relief corps for years to come.
Heading into 2026, Williams will look to recapture the dominant form he showed during his 2020 Rookie of the Year campaign. With a healthier offseason, a familiar pitch mix led by the Airbender changeup, and a clear role in the Mets’ bullpen, he is expected to once again be one of the most impactful late-inning arms in the National League.