When the Yankees acquired Devin Williams from the Brewers in December, he started what has been a rocky relationship with a brand new fanbase.
The 2-time Nationwide League Reliever of the Yr didn’t make a powerful first impression, recording an 11.25 ERA over his first 10 video games. The efficiency led to unprecedented boos for Williams, questions over his consolation in New York, and his elimination because the Yankees’ nearer.
However with Luke Weaver damage, Williams is again within the function. The return comes with Williams higher resembling his greatest self these days, as he’s held opponents scoreless in 16 of his final 19 outings. On Thursday, he picked up his second save in as many days, recording a 1-2-3 ninth in a 1-0 win over the Royals, giving the Bronx devoted extra purpose to get behind him.
One in all Williams’ new followers isn’t all that enthusiastic about his highs and lows, although. As an alternative, Michael DiMartino has taken notice of Williams due to his signature pitch, “The Airbender.”
Michael DiMartino (Lisa Wahlander)
DiMartino, not a lot of a baseball fan, had no thought Williams existed till not too long ago. Nevertheless, he and Bryan Konietzko co-created “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the present that impressed the nickname bestowed upon Williams’ go-to changeup.
The animated sequence, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary in February, aired on Nickelodeon from 2005-2008. Common amongst children and critics – the cartoon received a Primetime Emmy and a Peabody Award — “Avatar” tackled complicated themes corresponding to struggle, genocide, colonialism, discrimination, sexism, classism, animal cruelty, corruption, loss of life and the afterlife regardless of being geared towards youthful viewers.
“Avatar” is ready in an anime-influenced universe that’s stuffed with martial artists who can telekinetically manipulate, or “bend,” one in all 4 components: water, earth, hearth or air. Nations are divided primarily based on which aspect its individuals can bend, and the Hearth Nation is on an imperialistic warpath all through the present.
Solely the Avatar, a 12-year-old boy named Aang, can bend all 4 components. He’s answerable for sustaining concord between nations.
There’s far more lore to all of it, however the factor to know is that Airbenders could make issues transfer like loopy, similar to Williams.
“I had never thought about it before,” DiMartino mentioned, “but someone who can actually air-bend would make a great pitcher.”
In response to Baseball Savant, Williams’ Airbender entered the 2025 season as probably the most useful pitch thrown by a reliever since 2020. Whereas the Mets’ Pete Alonso obtained a maintain of 1 final October and the pitch lacked effectiveness when Williams struggled earlier this season, it’s again to being a lethal weapon, yielding a 39.6% whiff price in Could and a 40% price to this point in June.
Devin Williams, Ridiculous Airbender. 🛸
25 Inches of Arm Aspect Motion. 😲 pic.twitter.com/AmFkmU13nY
Williams doesn’t use telekinesis to make his Airbender dart, although, even when it could appear that approach at instances.
“It kind of defies physics,” mentioned Yankees Triple-A catcher Alex Jackson, who caught Williams in Milwaukee and this spring.
Added Ben Rice: “It looks like a cue ball coming in.”
Williams’ wrist pronation and flexion are answerable for his Airbender’s motion. So is former Brewers and present Yankees teammate Trent Grisham, who beneficial that Williams alter the grip of his changeup when the 2 had been with Milwaukee in 2019.
“He does a really good job of getting his hand to the top, inside corner of the ball,” mentioned Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake. “Most guys side-spin the ball or cut it, and he does a good job of top-spinning the inside of the ball at a really high rate. So it ends up being essentially a left-handed slider with how hard he spins it from that position. Most guys can’t do that.”
Others referred to The Airbender as a screwball when Williams first began chucking it.
The controversy left Rob Friedman, a.okay.a. the Pitching Ninja, looking for another. Then he remembered the present a few child who can bend air.
“I was definitely familiar with the name of the cartoon, but never watched it,” Friedman mentioned. “I just liked the name and thought it was a great way to categorize something that’s so nasty while stopping the argument of whether it was a changeup or screwball.”
Each Swing and Miss on new Yankees Devin Williams’ Airbender Changeup in 2024 pic.twitter.com/MLWMBaDkpO
Weaver, who throws his personal filthy changeup, mentioned Williams’ is “in a different category” and a “unicorn-type pitch.”
Austin Wells agreed, claiming Williams has an “anomaly” in his arsenal.
“It’s just different than what guys are used to seeing,” Williams mentioned.
Whereas the Yankees have grow to be acquainted with Williams’ Airbender, the group didn’t know a lot about DiMartino’s. Like Friedman, few had seen the sequence. Some didn’t even learn about it.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. proved to be an exception.
“I watched it growing up,” mentioned the Yankees’ resident cartoon professional, who wears anime-inspired gear. “My mother purchased me the discs that had all of the seasons and all of the episodes on it.
“I watched it a lot.”
Williams, in the meantime, has leaned into being baseball’s first Airbender.
Aang from “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” (Nickelodeon/Paramount)
The picture used for this story is identical one which Williams makes use of for his profile pic on Instagram. It was created by Francis Lee, an enormous fan of the Yankees and “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
The glowing eyes and arrow within the heart of Williams’ brow are a nod to Aang’s character design. The identical arrow seems on Yankee Stadium’s jumbotron when he enters a recreation.
“It’s cute!” mentioned DiMartino, who majored in animation on the Rhode Island College of Design. “He makes a good-looking Avatar.”
May Williams make a good-sounding “Avatar” character, although?
Perhaps he’ll get the chance to search out out.
In 2021, Nickelodeon based Avatar Studios with the intention of an expanded universe by way of new reveals and films. One movie, “The Legend of Aang,” has already been introduced.
If Williams had been to ever lend his voice to the Avatar universe, he wouldn’t be the primary athlete to take action. Tennis icon Serena Williams is “obsessed” with the present and made cameos in “The Last Airbender” and a by-product, “The Legend of Korra.”
“You never know,” DiMartino mentioned of the Yankees’ Williams taking part in a component.
Williams has by no means performed any voice performing, however he’s open to the concept.
“Sure,” he mentioned. “Tell him to contact my agent.”
Chisholm, in the meantime, sounded able to symbolize Williams ought to Nickelodeon come calling.
“He should be doing that!” the third baseman mentioned. “That’s why you have that great nickname, bro. Use it to your advantage. It’s sick!”
Williams mentioned he’d like to complete the unique “Avatar” sequence, as he’s a fan of anime. For now, nevertheless, he’ll give attention to closing. DiMartino plans on checking in, although the Vermont native’s newfound assist comes with a plot twist.
“Growing up in New England, Boston teams were my dad’s favorites, so the Red Sox hold a special place in my heart,” mentioned DiMartino, who watched Invoice Buckner’s notorious error within the 1986 World Sequence in horror earlier than shifting his pursuits away from baseball. “I’ll still be rooting for the Red Sox if the Yankees play them. Sorry, Devin!”
With the Bombers beginning a brand new sequence towards the Purple Sox on Friday, Williams, who already has one save towards Boston this season, would fairly make Yankees followers blissful than DiMartino.
“Hopefully,” he mentioned, “I don’t give him anything to cheer about.”
