The Reliever Who Almost Wasn't

The Glove

In 2018, in the minor leagues, Devin Williams gave up a home run and then intentionally threw at the next batter. He missed — the ball sailed over the hitter's head. He was ejected, walked off the mound, tossed his glove to a kid in the stands, and was ready to quit baseball.

Years earlier, in eighth grade, he had wanted to drop baseball and play soccer full-time. His grandfather, Doug Mottert, who helped raise Williams alongside his single mother, Angela Norton, in northern St. Louis County, refused to keep paying for soccer unless Williams stuck with baseball too. He kept both.

His mother once drove him to a Minnesota showcase in their small red car, stayed overnight, watched him pitch late, then drove straight back through the night to teach her 10 a.m. spin class without missing work. The Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the second round, 54th overall, in 2013 out of Hazelwood West High School in Hazelwood, Missouri. He signed for $1.35 million instead of attending the University of Missouri. After signing, he bought a house for his mother and sisters so the family could stop moving.

Out of the Pen

He debuted on August 7, 2019. All 345 of his appearances have come in relief. On June 11, in a Mets uniform, Williams recorded his 500th career strikeout — across 331.1 innings spread over six seasons in Milwaukee, a 2025 stint with the Yankees, and his current season in New York. He won the Jackie Robinson NL Rookie of the Year in 2020 and made the All-Star team in 2022 and 2023. His career ERA sits at 2.66. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake has called him one of the best relievers in the league, if not the best.

He is 31, with 100 career saves and 510 strikeouts, pitching for the Mets.

Reporting: Andscape, ESPN, MLB.com, Wikipedia. Career and biographical data: MLB StatsAPI, via the Fever engine.