New York Mets closer Devin Williams is on the cusp of returning to the mound, with plans to begin throwing within days. This marks a critical juncture in his recovery from a right shoulder strain diagnosed three weeks ago, a development that will determine if he can pitch again for the team this season. Williams stated that performing again before the season concludes is important for him to assess his health heading into the offseason.
Williams, who signed a three-year, $51 million contract, has been limited to strengthening exercises since his injury. "The standings are what they are, but I would like to contribute and go into the offseason on a good note and healthy, and it’s pretty important to me," Williams told The Post.
During Williams' absence, pitcher Kodai Senga has stepped into the closer role, achieving considerable success. Senga had a perfect record in save opportunities prior to a recent setback where he allowed a walk-off home run. Williams acknowledged Senga's effectiveness, noting, "He has done great — four of four on save opportunities and you can’t really do better than that, it’s fun to watch." He added that Senga's bullpen performance has been impressive, with "stuff" looking very good.
Williams indicated that Senga, having previously served as a reliever in Japan, possesses the necessary understanding of the role and doesn't require guidance. "I think he knows [the job] already," Williams said. "He was a reliever on his team in Japan at one point, so he knows what the role calls for."
The team's bullpen has seen a resurgence since the trade deadline, with relievers like Nate Lavender and Daniel Duarte dominating, and Jefry Yan, Jonathan Pintaro, and Dedniel Núñez stepping up. Williams is the sole remaining veteran member of the unit, following the trades of Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, and Huascar Brazobán. "Everyone has thrown the ball really well," Williams commented on the bullpen's performance.
Despite the team's struggles, with the Mets last in the NL East at 60-74 entering play Friday, Williams remains optimistic about the team's potential. The team had shown improvement with a 13-8 stretch leading up to Friday's games. "I think we have shown our ability a little more than we have throughout the course of the season — like, what this team could be," Williams said. "The talent level of the guys in here and what they are capable of has definitely started to come through the further we have gotten in the season."
Williams pointed to the team's core lineup, which he noted is largely consistent from the start of the season, despite the absence of Juan Soto who is recovering from a calf strain. "You can see that the pieces are there," Williams stated. "It’s just doing what we’re capable of. That’s the name of the game."
In his appearances this season, Williams has recorded 16 saves in 19 opportunities, though his ERA stands at 4.66 across 42 games. He described his season as having been "up and down," with good stretches punctuated by difficult games.