The Airbender’s magic doesn’t come from his beard, but try telling that to Yankees fans! Pitcher Devin Williams’ shaved look has become a hot topic, all thanks to the Yankees’ infamous no-beard policy. For years, Williams’ signature beard gave him an unmistakable presence on the mound, a look that screamed dominance. Now, fans claim he has lost his aura, looking almost too clean-cut to be the same pitcher who’s been terrorizing hitters since 2019. But the constant trolling over his no-beard looks made the Williams hit back this time.

But let’s be real—his pitches still dance, his stuff still dominates, and his arm still holds the key to shutting down the opposition. And if his past performances are anything to go by, Bronx hitters should worry less about his new look and more about how to hit his unhittable stuff. That being said, how much can Williams be a value addition for the Bronx? 

2025 is going to be the first season of Devin Williams with the Yankees, and hence this is the first time fans are looking at the no-beard look of him. The Yankees came up with this rule in 1976 to promote a sense of discipline in the team and goes well with baseball’s perception as a gentleman’s game. While there were arguments regarding the relevancy of his no-beard rule in the current time, it seems to go well with the players. However, a player getting trolled for the same is something new for the team.

“Everyone’s got an opinion, so, it is what it is”, Williams said when asked about fans’ trolling. While Williams may not control everyone’s opinion, it is frustrating to see a player getting trolled for his looks. For the unversed, Devin Williams is coming up with a 1.25 ERA and 38SOs in 2024 and he is 2x All-Star and 2x NL Reliever of the Year. His performance went south last year due to his back injury, but his air-bending pitch is something that holds value during high-leverage situations. He has two primary pitches: a four-seam fastball and a circle changeup with screwball-like movement while rotating the ball off the ring finger during release. 

Expectations are high 

Keeping the trolling aside, the Yankees have high expectations from Devin Williams this year. He can be a value addition with Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Luis Gil this year. It is unlikely that Williams will be added to the starting rotation, but the ongoing tussle between the Yankees and Marcus Stroman can offer a better opportunity for him. If Stroman is released from the team, Williams might end up in the starting rotation. Contrary to his recent figures, Williams can be devastating at times. For those unaware, the opposing hitters have hit just .134 (69-for-515) against him with 245 SOs in 2020.

“I told him today, it was my first time standing behind that thing — it’s impressive,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said during this spring training season. Fans can expect to witness a few such pitches this year with the Yankees. In between all these, the team seems not bothered by the outside noise involving Devin Williams. For the fans also, it’s time to wait and see how Williams is performing in the park and arguments can be made then. It is his first year with the Yankees, and he should be offered positive fan reactions rather than trolling him for something irrelevant. 

It would be interesting to watch how the rival batters face the airbenders by Devin Williams, and his on-field performance will be the rightful response to the trolls. 

What do you think about Williams getting trolled for his no-beard look? Share your views with us below.