The New York Mets have been busy this offseason, making a series of strategic moves to bolster their roster. While much of the spotlight has been on enhancing their lineup and securing ace pitcher Freddy Peralta, the bullpen has also seen significant changes.
A major shift is the departure of Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Mets bringing in Devin Williams as his replacement. Williams, known for his time as the New York Yankees closer, made his Mets debut during Spring Training on Friday, February 27.
Unfortunately, Williams' introduction didn’t go as planned. Facing off against top St.
Louis Cardinals prospect J.J. Wetherholt, Williams’ very first pitch resulted in a towering home run, traveling 422 feet.
The Cardinals captured the moment, sharing a video of Wetherholt's impressive hit. The pitch was right in the heart of the strike zone, and Wetherholt didn’t miss the opportunity.
Despite this rocky start, Williams managed to regain his composure. He quickly retired the next three batters with a pop-out, line-out, and ground-out, wrapping up the inning while conceding just that single run.
Williams, a two-time All-Star, had been stellar with the Milwaukee Brewers, boasting a 1.83 ERA over 241 games. However, his stint with the Yankees saw a dip in form, with a 4.79 ERA across 67 games. Now, as he transitions to the Mets, the pressure is on to prove his worth, especially after the team invested $41.38 million in him to fill Diaz's shoes.
While Spring Training is often a time for players to shake off the rust, giving up a home run on his first pitch isn't the ideal start for Williams in a Mets uniform. Still, with his track record of never allowing more than five homers in a season, there's hope that this was just a minor hiccup in what could be a strong season ahead.