Yankees fans will absolutely love Devin Williams' response to closer situation

Devin Williams is a Rookie of the Year winner, a two time All-Star, a two time Reliever of the Year winner, and has the best nickname in baseball for his signature pitch, “the Airbender.” He also had a 10.03 ERA and 10 walks with the New York Yankees through the first 11.2 innings of the season and lost the closer role as a result.

However, Williams has been nothing but graceful in accepting his new role, and the results speak for themselves.

The change has been a win-win for Williams and the Yankees club as a whole. In his last six appearances, Williams has thrown 5.1 innings, allowing only two runners and striking out seven. One of those appearances was a fantastic eighth inning in the Yankees’ fierce Rivalry Weekend series against the Mets, where he struck out the side.

Part of that inning was the anticipated rematch between Williams and Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. The last time they faced off was in the ninth inning of the win-or-go-home game of the National League Wild Card series, where Alonso broke the hearts of Brewers fans everywhere. That was the last time Williams would pitch in a Brewers uniform. This time, Williams came out on top.

Yankees fans were nervous early in the season that Williams was not the pitcher who was promised, but he’s doing and saying the right things to change the narrative. Coming in clutch in appearances against the Mets will help, but he’s emphasized that he’s focused on getting outs, not on job titles. When asked by Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News about the closer role, Williams said: “It doesn’t matter right now… I mean, I’m putting up zeroes right? If I give up runs in the eighth inning, if I give up runs in the ninth inning, they count the same.”

Though Yankees fans were upset with Williams' start to the season, all anybody can ask for is a good attitude, and there's no question he's been able to deliver in that department despite going through the ringer.

The other payoff to Williams excelling in the setup role is that Luke Weaver has been right there to pick up as one of the best closers in the game. Weaver, beloved for his goofy personality and hilarious interviews, broke out last year with the Yankees and hasn’t let up. He has a 0.76 ERA with 23 2/3 innings this year, and the closer role is his for the foreseeable future. Williams and Weaver have both pitched sensationally recently and will be a huge reason for the Yankees success as the season unfolds. When all is said and done, Yankees fans will at least be appreciative of Williams for having the right approach after seeing his world turned upside down.