The New York Mets received encouraging news Tuesday as veteran reliever Devin Williams took another important step in his recovery from a right shoulder strain.
Williams returned to the mound for his first bullpen session since being placed on the injured list on August 10. The session represents meaningful progress for the right-hander, who has been working for several weeks to rebuild strength in his shoulder after experiencing arm fatigue earlier in August.
With fewer than three weeks remaining in the regular season, Williams remains hopeful that he will have enough time to return to the Mets bullpen before the campaign comes to an end. His progress could give New York another major option for the late innings as the team looks ahead to the final stretch of the season.
Williams Continues to Make Progress
Williams initially began experiencing fatigue in his arm at the start of August. Following further evaluation, an MRI revealed a strain in his right shoulder, forcing the Mets to shut him down and place him on the injured list.
Rather than immediately beginning a throwing program, Williams spent several weeks concentrating on strengthening his shoulder. The Mets have been cautious throughout the process, understanding that a premature return could create bigger problems for the pitcher and potentially affect his availability going into the 2027 season.
Now, however, Williams has progressed to the point where he is throwing from a mound again.
The pitcher remains optimistic about his recovery and believes the process is heading in the right direction.
Williams told the New York Post that everything has been progressing positively and that he believes he and the Mets are in a good position.
That development should be welcomed by the organization, particularly because Williams remains an important part of its long-term plans.
The Mets signed Williams to a three-year, $51 million contract during the offseason, making him one of the most significant additions to their bullpen. His first season in New York has not gone exactly as expected, however.
Through 42 appearances, Williams has posted a 4.66 ERA. Those numbers are considerably different from the dominant results Mets fans hoped to see when the club committed substantial money to the reliever.
Still, his return could provide Williams with an opportunity to end the season on a better note.
Rather than focusing solely on how many appearances he can make over the final weeks, the Mets appear more interested in ensuring that Williams returns fully healthy. There would be little benefit in rushing him back simply so he can pitch a handful of innings before the season ends.
Manager Andy Green has indicated that the organization wants Williams back when he is ready, but the priority is making sure the pitcher does not put himself in danger by returning too quickly.
That cautious approach makes sense considering Williams is already under contract for next season.
The Ninth-Inning Situation Has Changed
While Williams’ recovery is encouraging, his eventual return could create an interesting question for the Mets.
Who should handle the ninth inning?
When Williams went down, the Mets had to adjust their bullpen plans. One of the most interesting developments since then has been Kodai Senga’s transition into the closer role.
Senga has taken advantage of the opportunity and quickly established himself as a reliable option in the late innings.
The right-hander recorded his seventh save in seven opportunities Tuesday against the Miami Marlins. Although he surrendered a run during the ninth inning, Senga responded when the pressure increased, striking out the final two batters to secure New York’s 7-5 victory.
His recent success has made the Mets’ bullpen situation much more complicated—in a good way.
Senga’s move into relief initially gave the Mets an opportunity to evaluate what his pitching arsenal could look like when used in shorter appearances. Instead of having to navigate an entire lineup multiple times, Senga could attack hitters aggressively and maximize his stuff over a smaller workload.
The experiment has worked extremely well.
Even before Tuesday’s performance, Senga had recorded a 1.54 ERA over his first 12 relief appearances following the trade deadline.
That level of production is difficult for the Mets to ignore.
Should Williams Immediately Reclaim the Ninth?
Williams’ eventual return does not necessarily mean Senga should automatically lose the closer role.
There is a strong argument for allowing Senga to continue pitching in the ninth inning, particularly while he is performing at such a high level.
At the same time, Williams was signed to be a major component of the Mets’ bullpen. When healthy, he has the experience and track record to pitch in the most important situations.
The Mets therefore have a potentially valuable problem.
Instead of having only one dependable late-inning option, New York could eventually have two pitchers capable of handling high-pressure situations.
That could be especially useful during the final weeks of the regular season and, if the Mets remain in contention, potentially during the postseason.
There is no reason for the organization to rush Williams directly back into the closer role simply because he is healthy enough to pitch. The team could ease him into meaningful situations, monitor how his shoulder responds, and gradually increase his workload.
Meanwhile, Senga could continue handling the ninth inning.
That arrangement would allow the Mets to evaluate both pitchers without unnecessarily disrupting something that is already working.
A Potentially Valuable Final Test
If Williams is able to return before the regular season concludes, the final few weeks could become an important evaluation period for New York.
The Mets would have the opportunity to see how Williams looks in competitive situations after his shoulder issue. They could also determine how he fits alongside Senga in the late innings.
Rather than viewing the situation as a competition that requires one pitcher to replace the other, the Mets could potentially use both.
Williams could return to high-leverage situations while Senga continues to close games. Depending on matchups, workload, and performance, the coaching staff could deploy each pitcher according to the circumstances.
That would give New York additional flexibility.
Most importantly, Williams’ return would allow the Mets to enter the offseason with a clearer understanding of what their bullpen could look like in 2027.
His 4.66 ERA means there is still plenty for him to prove after an inconsistent first season in New York. But simply getting back onto the mound and finishing the year healthy would be a positive development.
The Mets do not need Williams to immediately become the dominant closer they expected when they signed him. At this stage, the priority should be ensuring that his shoulder is healthy and that he can build confidence heading into the offseason.
For Senga, meanwhile, the recent success creates an opportunity of his own.
He has demonstrated that his transition to the bullpen can produce significant results, and the Mets now have evidence that he can handle the pressure of late-game situations.
If Williams returns, the Mets will have an intriguing decision to make.
They could return Williams to the ninth inning because of his contract and previous reputation, or they could allow Senga to continue in the role he has earned through his recent performances.
Either way, having both pitchers available would give New York a much deeper and more versatile bullpen.
For now, the biggest positive is that Williams is throwing again.
With the regular season rapidly approaching its conclusion, every successful step in his recovery brings him closer to a potential return. If he continues progressing without setbacks, the Mets could soon find themselves with a fascinating late-inning combination—and a decision that could influence how their bullpen is constructed heading into 2027.
