Devin Terran 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 a leading reliever in the league. In 2020, he was honored as the National League’s Rookie of the Year and has since been named an All-Star twice. Following a successful tenure with the Brewers, he was traded to the New York Yankees and later signed a lucrative contract with the Mets, underscoring his status as a top player in professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Williams was born September 21, 1994, in St. Louis, Missouri, and he was raised by his mother, Angela Norton, in the northern part of St. Louis County. As a child, Williams was a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and wanted to play soccer full-time, but his grandfather insisted he play baseball as well. He found greater success on the diamond and pursued baseball seriously during his high school years.
In his final season with Hazelwood West High School, Williams had a 6–2 win–loss record and a 1.15 earned run average (ERA), striking out 101 batters while walking only 28. His fastball speed regularly reached 92 to 94 mph that year, and he also developed a slider and a circle changeup to complement his fastball.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Williams in the second round, with the 54th overall pick, of the 2013 MLB draft. At the time, he had committed to playing college baseball for the Missouri Tigers, but Williams signed with the Brewers on June 16 for a $1.35 million signing bonus. He began his professional career with the rookie-level Arizona League Brewers, where he went 1–5 with a 3.38 ERA in 13 games including six starts, striking out 39 batters in 34 and two-thirds innings pitched.
During spring training in 2017, Williams tore the ulnar collateral ligament of his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery, missing the entire 2017 season. In 2019, he was chosen to represent the Brewers at the All-Star Futures Game, a significant honor that showcased his potential at the minor league level.
Devin Terran Williams Career
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2019–2024)
On August 5, 2019, the Brewers selected Williams’ contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut on August 7 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. In 13 appearances with the 2019 Brewers, Williams pitched to a 3.95 ERA while striking out 14 batters in 13 and two-thirds innings pitched.
Williams had a breakout year in 2020. He was named the National League Reliever of the Month for September 2020, surrendering just four hits, no runs, and recording 24 strikeouts in 13 innings. His remarkable season culminated with a 0.33 ERA, the lowest in a single season with at least 21 innings pitched since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913. He surrendered just 18 hits in 27 innings with 53 strikeouts. On October 5, 2020, Williams was named the NL Reliever of the Year, capturing 12 of 17 votes. On November 9, he was named the NL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first relief pitcher to win the award since Craig Kimbrel in 2011.
Williams returned to the Brewers’ bullpen for the 2021 season. After allowing only a single earned run in 14 relief appearances during August, he was named NL Reliever of the Month for the second time. However, his season ended prematurely when he fractured his pitching hand after punching a wall following celebrations for the team’s NL Central Division title.
The Brewers traded Josh Hader, their closer, at the 2022 trade deadline, and Williams succeeded him in the closer role. On January 13, 2023, Williams agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million contract with the Brewers. He finished the 2023 season with a 1.53 ERA and 36 saves, winning the NL Reliever of the Year award for the second time.
Williams signed a one-year contract for the 2024 season worth $7.25 million with a club option for 2025. On March 14, 2024, it was announced that Williams would miss roughly three months with two stress fractures in his back. He was activated from the injured list on July 28 and logged a 1.25 ERA with 14 saves over 21 and two-thirds innings pitched. In the 2024 National League Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, Williams gave up four runs in the top of the ninth inning as Milwaukee lost the series. At the end of the 2024 season, the Brewers declined the option on his contract.
New York Yankees (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 be the team’s closer. Williams made his Yankees debut on March 4, 2025, when he closed out a 12–3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies during spring training. On April 27, manager Aaron Boone announced that Williams was demoted from the closer role, but he was re-inserted as the closer in early June after showing improvement and Luke Weaver suffered an injury. In 67 appearances for New York, Williams logged a 4.79 ERA with 90 strikeouts and 18 saves over 62 innings pitched.
New York Mets (2026–Present)
On December 3, 2025, Williams signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the New York Mets. The deal runs through the 2028 season and reflects his status as one of the top relievers in professional baseball. Williams brings his proven track record of success as a closer to a Mets team looking to compete for a championship.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Williams features two primary pitches: a four-seam fastball and a circle changeup with screwball-like movement. The changeup, which he refers to as the “Airbender,” rotates off the ring finger during release and is similar to a cricket leg-spinner bowling a googly, but thrown at around 85 mph with a very high spin rate of 2,852 rpm. He also has a rarely-used cutter and sinker in his arsenal. In 2020, due to the increased movement on the changeup, he increased its usage and often used it as a strikeout pitch. His unique ability to generate exceptional movement has made him one of the most effective relievers in baseball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Williams achieved a remarkable 0.33 ERA in 2020, setting a record for the lowest ERA in a single season with at least 21 innings pitched since earned runs became official in 1913. He became the first relief pitcher to win NL Rookie of the Year since Craig Kimbrel in 2011. He has accumulated 97 career saves across his time with the Brewers, Yankees, and Mets, with over 500 career strikeouts in his major league career.
Devin Terran Williams Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career, Williams has established himself as one of the premier relievers in baseball, accumulating 34 wins, 506 strikeouts, and 97 saves with a 2.60 career ERA. His most dominant stretch came with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he recorded 79 saves and posted sub-1.00 ERAs in multiple seasons.
Milwaukee Brewers Highlights
Williams saved 79 games during his five seasons with the Brewers from 2019 to 2024. His 2020 campaign was historic, as he went 4-1 with a 0.33 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 27 innings, winning both NL Rookie of the Year and NL Reliever of the Year. He followed that with a 1.53 ERA and 36 saves in 2023, earning him his second NL Reliever of the Year award. His most recent season with Milwaukee in 2024 saw him post a 1.25 ERA with 14 saves before the postseason.
New York Yankees and Mets Highlights
Williams saved 18 games for the Yankees in 2025 before joining the Mets. With his new team, Williams signed a three-year, $51 million contract, making him one of the highest-paid relievers in the sport and solidifying his role as a closer for a franchise with championship aspirations.
| Series | Wins | Losses | ERA | Saves | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB Career | 34 | 18 | 2.60 | 97 | 506 |
| Milwaukee Brewers (2019–2024) | 30 | 14 | 2.24 | 79 | 377 |
| New York Yankees (2025) | 4 | 4 | 4.79 | 18 | 90 |
Devin Terran Williams Family
Family Background
Williams was raised by his mother, Angela Norton, in the northern part of St. Louis County. His grandfather played an influential role in his athletic development, insisting that young Devin play baseball in addition to soccer. This guidance proved pivotal, as Williams found greater success on the diamond and ultimately built his professional career in baseball.
Personal Life
Williams is active on social media, maintaining accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. He is known for his signature pitch, the “Airbender” changeup, a nickname coined by Rob Friedman. The pitcher resides in St. Louis during the offseason and maintains connections to his hometown community.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Williams after the Brewers traded him to the New York Yankees in December 2024. Expected to serve as the Yankees’ closer, Williams struggled initially and was demoted from the closer role in late April. However, he showed resilience and was re-inserted as the closer in early June after demonstrating improvement and Luke Weaver suffered an injury.
Williams finished the 2025 season with New York appearing in 67 games, logging a 4.79 ERA with 18 saves and 90 strikeouts over 62 innings pitched. While his ERA was elevated compared to his career standards, he still contributed 18 saves for the Yankees and demonstrated the ability to bounce back from adversity.
Following the 2025 season, Williams entered free agency and signed with the New York Mets on December 3, 2025, agreeing to a three-year, $51 million contract. The deal runs through the 2028 season and positions Williams as a key piece of the Mets’ bullpen as the team aims for championship contention in the coming years.