Devin Williams Embracing the Challenge as Mets’ New Closer
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Devin Williams isn’t expecting Mets fans to fall head over heels for him after one sharp live batting practice session on Valentine’s Day. He knows it’ll take more than a few spring strikeouts to win over a fanbase still adjusting to life without Edwin Díaz anchoring the ninth.
But if early signs mean anything, Williams and the Mets are building something that could blossom into a strong partnership in 2026 - and maybe beyond.
Now in his second year in New York, Williams enters camp with a fresh mindset and a few new tricks. After a rocky stint with the Yankees last season, he spent the offseason refining his arsenal.
The result? A revamped pitch mix that includes a developing slider and a more prominent cutter - both designed to complement his signature changeup and keep hitters guessing.
“I’m feeling really comfortable with the cutter,” Williams said Sunday morning at Clover Park. “Slider is definitely getting there.
I’ve been seeing some good results with that. So I’m pretty happy right now.”
That’s encouraging news for the Mets, especially considering how misleading Williams’ 2025 numbers were. On the surface, his 4.79 ERA raised eyebrows, but a deeper look tells a different story. His 2.68 FIP - which strips away defensive miscues and bad bounces - paints a picture of a pitcher who still had elite swing-and-miss stuff but got burned by some tough luck and a few blow-up outings.
It’s the nature of the beast for relievers. One or two rough appearances can tank your ERA, especially when you’re logging just an inning or less per outing. And while Williams did have some forgettable nights in the Bronx, he also strung together dominant stretches, particularly down the stretch.
“When you actually look at the underlying things that we can control as pitchers, he had a really good year again last season,” said Mets pitching coach Justin Willard. “He just had some bad luck early.”
Willard is particularly intrigued by the evolution of Williams’ pitch mix. He compared the process to a conversation he had with Kodai Senga, whose “Ghost Fork” became must-see TV during his rookie year. Like Senga, Williams has a pitch that’s become his calling card - the “Airbender,” a devastating changeup that’s been one of the most unhittable pitches in the game.
But when hitters know what’s coming, even elite pitches can lose their edge. That’s where the cutter and slider come in.
“When you have a pitch named after you, the hitters know that as well,” Willard said. “Their game plan is going to be centered around that pitch. We’ve got to add things to your arsenal to maximize that pitch, because big-league lineups can stick to a plan pretty well.”
That’s exactly what Williams is working on - not replacing the Airbender, but enhancing it. In his live BP session Saturday, he struck out the side using a mix of sliders and cutters. The new pitches aren’t fully polished yet, but that’s what spring training is for: building confidence, dialing in command, and seeing how hitters react.
“Usually guys will go up there and they might be sitting on the changeup,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Now he’s got other weapons that he can attack different hitters with.
So he’s going to continue to use those. He’s going to continue to work on it during spring training once we start playing games.”
Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. Replacing Edwin Díaz - one of the most electrifying closers in baseball and a fan favorite in Queens - is no small task.
But Williams isn’t trying to be Díaz. He’s focused on being the best version of himself.
“There’s pressure in the closer’s role,” Williams said. “That is what it is.
As far as comparing myself to somebody else, I’m not going to do that. I’m pretty good in my own right.
I’m just going to go out and try to be the best version of myself. And I think that that’s good enough.”
That kind of confidence - grounded, not cocky - is exactly what the Mets need at the back end of their bullpen. Williams knows the expectations.
He knows the scrutiny that comes with pitching in New York. But he also knows what he’s capable of when he’s locked in.
And if the early returns are any indication, the Mets may have found a worthy successor to Díaz - one with a few new weapons and something to prove.