In baseball, if a player puts his foot in a certain way, that’s called a superstition. But Devin Williams of the New York Yankees eats that for his breakfast.
Williams has joined the ranks of players with intriguing baseball superstitions, as recently revealed in an interview featured on MLB’s official Instagram page. Williams shared that he is quite superstitious about his pregame routine, detailing two specific practices that he follows.
Firstly, Williams mentioned a common superstition among players.
“I always put my left shoe on first, just specifically with the way I put my uniform on. When I get out of the shower, I do it the same way every day,” he said during the interview.
Though that looks kind of a superstition starter. However, Williams’ second superstition is more unique and potentially not the best for locker room hygiene.
Devin Williams says that he won’t wash his sleeves if he has a scoreless outing, and won’t wash them until he gives up a run😂😷
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) March 19, 2025
“‘21 I had like 28 or 29 innings in a row so, they were kinda stinky”#Yankees pic.twitter.com/XhSBadTXno
“The two sleeves that I wear, if I put up a zero, they don’t get washed. If I give up runs, then they got to go into the wash. In 2021, I think I had like 28 or 29 innings in a row, so they were a little stinky by the end of that,” Williams said.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MLB stories via Google! Follow Us
However, this practice leads to some interesting stinky situations, especially given his impressive streak in 2022, where he had 30 consecutive scoreless appearances. Good luck to his teammates in case he goes with a zero for too long.
Also Read: MLB Insider Proposes The Ideal Southpaw For The Yankees Amid Gerrit Cole’s Crisis
The Yankees Are In The Mix For Devin Williams
The Yankees initiated their offseason by trading for right-hander Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers. Their aim was to strengthen their bullpen with one of baseball’s top closers. Williams, who will assume the closer role for the 2025 season, avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $8.6 million.
Looking ahead, his long-term future with the Yankees may require a substantial extension. Projections from The Athletic’s Tim Britton indicate that a five-year, $80 million contract might be necessary to retain Williams, positioning him among the top-paid closers in the league.
Devin Williams, Airbenderpic.twitter.com/rl1co8Igsv
— Underdog MLB (@Underdog__MLB) March 4, 2025
The Yankees have the option of monitoring Williams’ adaptation to New York and assessing his health following past injuries before finalizing such a commitment.
Williams has an impressive track record, featuring a career ERA of 1.83, along with significant strikeout and save numbers. Notably, his signature pitch, the “Airbender” changeup, has been highly effective, contributing to his success on the mound.
Despite dealing with back injuries in 2024, when he achieved a 1.25 ERA and recorded 14 saves, Williams faced challenges during the postseason, specifically in a critical game against the Mets.
Also Read: Two Pocket-Friendly Free Agent Pitchers The Yankees Could Consider As Dylan Cease Talks Stall
