Yankees’ Devin Williams shows ‘what he’s capable of’ in huge 10th-inning escape

There has been plenty of external focus on Devin Williams’ level of comfort through the first month-plus of the season, his results lagging and his reception from the crowd in The Bronx often unfriendly.

There was no need for body-language experts Wednesday night.

There were several roars, the last screamed into his glove, to go with a confident strut into the home dugout after maybe his most electric outing of the season.

Williams — who has lost his closing role and has lost plenty of confidence from a fan base that might not have liked the sight of his running in for the 10th inning of a tie game — reminded of the type of overwhelming presence he can strike in the Yankees’ 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres.

“That’s what he is,” manager Aaron Boone said after Williams faced the top of the San Diego order and survived, “and what he’s capable of.”

Called into a 3-3 game for the top of the 10th, after fill-in closer Luke Weaver already had recorded five outs, Williams was not perfect but he was unhittable.

Devin Williams celebrates after escaping a 10th-inning jam in the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Padres on May 7, 2025.

He used three pitches — a heater and two bending changeups — to sit down Fernando Tatis Jr. Automatic runner Brandon Lockridge swiped third, bringing the go-ahead run 90 feet away — 90 feet from Williams being booed by his own team’s fans again.

“That’s as tough a spot as you’re going to be in,” said Boone, who watched Williams use every bit of his room for error to find his way out.

He walked Luis Arraez to put runners on the corners, then used a middle-of-the-plate changeup with enough movement that Manny Machado swung through it.

One out away, Williams manufactured a bit more drama by drilling Jackson Merrill to load the bases.

He was a ball away from putting Xander Bogaerts on first and allowing the go-ahead run, but Williams opted for a diving, full-count changeup that induced a whiff to end the frame, fire up the crowd and experience the type of moment that has been difficult to come by this year.

He hopped, screamed and balled his right hand, his muscle subtly flexing after he flexed his stuff.

Devin Williams celebrates after getting out of the 10th inning in the Yankees’ victory over the Padres.

“I kind of blacked out, which is a good thing,” Williams said, who bounced back well from his outing Monday, when he allowed three runs and recorded two outs in blowing an eighth-inning lead against these Padres.

Williams and Boone have been consistent that they believe he has turned a corner despite an ERA that sits at 9.24.

For one night, the results reflected that belief.

“I’ve felt good for my last five outings,” Williams said after the Yankees celebrated J.C. Escarra’s walk-off sacrifice fly. “I feel like I’m back where I need to be mentally, physically.”