The New York Yankees made a huge splash by bringing Devin Williams to the Bronx. Fans were anticipating pure magic from the two-time Reliever of the Year. His “Aribender” changeup was legendary, a pitch seemingly invented in a lab. Everyone believed Williams would lock down the ninth inning, becoming the next great closer in pinstripes. But baseball has a way of scripting its own surprises, doesn’t it?
But instead of dominance, Williams’ debut month turned into a nightmare for Yankee fans. The pitcher who had baffled hitters for years suddenly found himself in a struggle. By early May, his earned-run average had spiked to an unbelievable 10.00. He walked nearly as many batters as he struck out. High-pressure moments went bad, turned into blown saves and losses. Finally, Manager Aaron Boone removed Williams from the closer role, replacing him with Luke Weaver for the ninth inning for the time being. Boone emphasized it was only temporary, with the hopes that Williams can rediscover his rhythm soon.
Now, a strange theory connects this downturn to one specific moment. ESPN’s David Schoenfield floated a compelling question about Williams’ struggles. He stated, “Whoa. You can’t help but wonder whether Alonso broke Williams with that home run in last October’s wild-card series between the Brewers and Mets.” Remember that game? It was a tense playoff eliminator in Milwaukee. Williams came in to close a game against the Mets in the ninth. Then Pete Alonso crushed Williams’ signature “Airbender” for a go-ahead three-run homer, ending the Brewers’ season.
This theory seems even more plausible when considering the past vs present. As Schoenfield added, Williams was “basically unhittable for the past five years.” His career ERA barely topped 2.00 before joining New York. Hitters looked completely lost against his devastating changeup for season after season. Fast forward to 2025, and opponents are batting over .340 against him. That previously untouchable changeup is getting mashed as well. The contrast just makes you wonder if that one swing by Alonso truly haunted the pitcher. It’s quite a fall from grace.
Yankees’ resilience shines through a rocky april
Of course, factors beyond one pitch likely fueled this slump. Williams never found command of his fastball early, allowing hitters to feast at a shocking .462 clip in April. Williams himself spoke candidly about needing to regain “conviction” in his pitching. He acknowledged closers must earn the role, admitting directly, “Lately, I haven’t been doing that.” Manager Aaron Boone stressed Williams has elite tools. Boone plans lower-leverage work for him to rebuild crucial rhythm and confidence.
Williams wasn’t the only one to encounter early-season hurdles. Outfielder Cody Bellinger hit only .206 through the end of April, well below expectations. And second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr also struggled, hitting only .181 during that first span. The young shortstop Anthony Volpe provided elite defense again, though he needed more consistency, only hitting .234. Even starter Carlos Rodón drew criticism for inconsistency, although he finished the month with an acceptable 3.43 ERA. These slow starts surely put pressure on the rest of the Yankees’ roster every day.
Despite all those headwinds, the Bronx Bombers found different paths to victories. Last season’s MVP, Aaron Judge, is back to his slugging self with a batting average of over .400 early on. He is carrying the offense with incredible power and on-base skills. Ben Rice proved another key source of power, mashing homers alongside Judge. Outfielder Trent Grisham added a surprising performance with eight early home runs. In the bullpen, Luke Weaver was brilliant, and he moved into the closer role with dominant performances.
Thanks to these key performances, the Yankees sat atop the AL East entering May. They built a solid 18-12 record with an impressive +53 run differential. This strong start occurred despite Williams’ issues and numerous injuries. Looking ahead, potential reinforcements loom large on the horizon. Key players like DJ LeMahieu, Giancarlo Stanton, and Marcus Stroman are working back from the Injured List. Their eventual return could significantly boost the team.
The post Strange Pete Alonso Link Emerges in Yankees’ $8.6M Star’s Misery as Insider Recalls Crushing World Series Moment appeared first on EssentiallySports.