New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone addresses closer Devin Williams’ rocky start to the MLB season with a candid statement that sheds light on his outlook for the weeks ahead.

Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees walks back to the dugout after a pitching change against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 01, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

© Photo by Elsa/Getty Images Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees walks back to the dugout after a pitching change against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 01, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

Despite a turbulent start to the MLB season for New York Yankees closer Devin Williams, manager Aaron Boone has expressed unwavering confidence in the right-hander. While Williams has delivered four uneven outings to open his first campaign in the Bronx, Boone remains firm in his belief that the former NL Reliever of the Year will find his form.

Williams nearly gave up an Opening Day win against the Milwaukee Brewers, took a loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday, and allowed three runs in the ninth inning on Wednesday before Mark Leiter Jr. bailed him out. Entering Friday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium, Williams had allowed four earned runs, five hits, and four walks in just three innings — leading to a staggering 12.00 ERA.

That stands in stark contrast to his performance last season, when — after returning from a back injury in late July — he surrendered just three earned runs over 21 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits and 11 walks while posting a stellar 1.25 ERA.

“He’s our closer,” Boone reiterated Friday, per The New York Post. “He’s going to get through this.” The early part of Williams’ Yankees tenure has revealed a more vulnerable side of a pitcher long considered one of MLB’s elite relievers. Through four appearances, he has yet to record a clean inning — a surprising development for someone renowned for his dominance in the late innings.

Boone: Pinpointing the problem

Boone believes Williams’ struggles boil down to a lack of consistency in the strike zone. “It’s just that next level of strike-throwing,” Boone explained, while reaffirming his trust in the closer’s ability to adjust.

Although Williams’ signature changeup is generating similar speed, spin, and vertical break as in previous seasons, opposing hitters have gone 2-for-5 against it and are striking out only 25 percent of the time on that pitch — a significant drop for what has long been his primary weapon.

“I feel like the depth’s there to it. I’m seeing a lot of good ones,” Boone added.
“Look, I did think Detroit took some really good at-bats [on Wednesday] where they laid off some tough ones, which changes the leverage of the at-bat. But again, I think it’s as simple as that next layer of strike-throwing — where he’s dictating counts. And now he gets unpredictable. If they want to sell out on the changeup, the fastball really plays for him.”

What next’s for Williams?

Boone remains confident that once Williams improves his command, he’ll return to being adominant ninth-inning option. “Once he does that, we’ll be in a good spot,” Boone concluded, projecting patience and optimism as Williams works to regain his elite form.