Bold statement: Even after a rough year, Devin Williams is betting on mental toughness to power his return with the Mets. And here’s why that mindset could redefine his career. But here’s where it gets controversial: can resilience alone overcome last season’s unraveling and a midcareer lull? Read on to see how Williams reframes setback as fuel—and what it means for his role in Queens.
Devin Williams believes mental toughness will carry him through his first season with the Mets. In Port St. Lucie, he reflected on a challenging stint with the Yankees, a year in which he twice lost the closer role and did not resemble the dominant reliever he had been for most of his Milwaukee tenure. Yet Williams arrives in New York carrying a key takeaway from that period: resilience.
“Mental toughness,” Williams said after Friday’s workout at Clover Park. “I wasn’t executing and I was getting bad results. It got pretty tough there, but I got through it and was throwing the ball really well by the end of the year.” He points to the final stretch of the regular season—nine straight scoreless appearances, primarily as a setup man for closer David Bednar—and four more scoreless outings in the playoffs—as evidence that he could recover and recapture his earlier form.
“Probably that last stretch of games, that was me, that’s my standard,” Williams stated. “I was executing the way I need to.” Now, with Edwin Díaz’s departure to the Dodgers soon after Williams signed with the Mets, Williams steps back into a closing role, ready for the added pressure.
“You’re gonna fail,” he acknowledged. “Stuff got really bad for a little bit last year, but I’m still me. I’m still the same guy. I’m still really good at this game.”
Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ manager, affirmed Williams’ standing as a top closer when he’s firing on all cylinders. “He’s been a guy,” Mendoza said, noting that last year’s early struggles were followed by adjustments that helped him regain his footing.
The season’s rough patch could prove beneficial long-term. Williams emphasized that adversity is an inevitable part of a baseball career and that the 2025 experience marked the toughest stretch he’s faced in the big leagues so far. He also reminded listeners that his career trajectory includes a much tougher period in 2018, when he was in the Brewers’ minor leagues after Tommy John surgery and endured a brutal season.
“There were times I was ready to quit in ’18,” Williams recalled. “I came back from surgery and was terrible; some days I wanted to go home. But I pressed through, made it to the big leagues in 2019, and the rest is history.”
As for Baty’s readiness, coachspeak and optimism mingle. Brett Baty will eventually receive right-field opportunities, but not before he reestablishes his footing in the infield following a balky right hamstring. Mendoza confirmed the plan focuses on getting Baty steady in the infield—primarily at first base—before venturing him into the outfield, though he remains confident in Baty’s overall athleticism.
Mendoza credited Baty’s demonstrated versatility, noting his seamless move from third base to second last year as a positive indicator for his future in the outfield. “The athleticism is there,” the manager said. “He’s familiar with the outfield, and now we just need reads and angles.” Baty has some outfield experience from the minors, including starts in 2022 with Double-A Binghamton. Mendoza added that Baty embraces this role with a competitive, personal commitment to growth.
In short, Williams’ comeback story rests on the idea that hardship can sharpen performance, not derail it. If his final run of 2025 translate to consistent execution in 2026, the Mets may have a closer who not only reclaims his edge but also embodies a mental toughness that sets him apart in a league where the margins are razor-thin. Do you buy that mental grit can be the difference-maker in a high-pressure bullpen? Share your take in the comments.
