Devin Williams, a key reliever for the New York Mets, expressed confidence Tuesday that he will pitch again for the team this season. This comes after he participated in his first bullpen session since being placed on the injured list on August 10 with a right shoulder strain.
"It's all moving in the right direction," Williams told The Post. "I think we're in a good spot." His stated goal since the injury has been to return before the end of the current season.
Interim manager Andy Green indicated that while the organization wants Williams back if healthy, they would not rush his return if it jeopardized his availability for next season. "It's all about getting built back up now," Williams said, focusing on the process of regaining strength and readiness.
Williams has appeared in 42 games this season, posting a 4.66 ERA. He joined the Mets last winter on a three-year, $51 million contract. With Williams sidelined, Kodai Senga has stepped into the closer role and performed well.
In other pitching news, Robert Stock is scheduled to start Wednesday's series finale against the Marlins. Stock last pitched on August 31, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings against Tampa Bay. He has a 5.81 ERA in seven appearances for the Mets this season after returning from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.
"He's had some amazing outings and he's had some tough ones," Green said of Stock. "The amazing outings are a lot of fun, where he has pitched deep into games and handled tough offenses."
Green also noted that Stock's versatility could be valuable. "Thinking of 2027, I think we'll see him out of the pen a little bit more this year as well, and we'll continue to try to figure out what kind of Swiss Army knife he could be for us, because that is valuable to have — somebody who can bounce back and forth from those roles."
The Mets have performed well since the trade deadline, holding a 19-12 record, which ties them for the second-best record in Major League Baseball over that period. Their team ERA of 3.01 since the deadline ranks third in MLB.