The captain of the New York Yankees couldn’t stay silent and delivered a strong message — the kind only Aaron Judge can — to defend one of his teammates after a tough night on the mound.

Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees adjusts his hat during batting practice before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 15, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.

© Getty Images Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees adjusts his hat during batting practice before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 15, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.

Aaron Judge didn’t hesitate to defend one of his New York Yankees teammates after a rough night on the mound allowed the Rays to rally for a win in extra innings. Despite the loss, which snapped the Yankees’ five-game winning streak, Judge made it clear he’s not losing confidence.

“We went out and got him for a reason. He’s the best closer in the game. We got a long season. This guy’s gonna save a lot of ballgames for us and help us out. I’m not worried at all. He knows what he needs to do. He’ll go out there. He’ll figure it out. Everybody in this room, we want him coming out of the bullpen, especially in a tight game,” Judge said when asked about Devin Williams following the Yankees loss.

Williams gave up multiple runs in the 10th inning, including a game-winning home run, but Judge doubled down with another strong statement: “That’s who we want on the mound. Nobody in here is worried. He’s gonna get the job done.”

A rocky start for Devin Williams in pinstripes

Williams, who joined the Yankees this season after a strong run with the Brewers, has struggled to find his rhythm early on. Through 9 MLB appearances, he holds a 9.00 ERA over 8 innings pitched, allowing 11 hits, 9 earned runs, and recording 8 strikeouts.

His latest outing against the Rays marked his worst yet as a Yankee: 4 earned runs and 4 hits, surpassing what had previously been his lowest point — a 3-run appearance against the Tigers that left him with a 12.00 ERA for that game.

Yankees bullpen still performing

Despite Williams’ struggles, the Yankees’ bullpen has been a bright spot. The team currently holds the 9th-best bullpen ERA in MLB at 3.38, just behind the Rays at 3.36. They’ve allowed 31 earned runs but have racked up 103 strikeouts, ranking second in the league behind only the Dodgers.