Williams finally gets long-awaited All-Star nod

SAN FRANCISCO -- Do you think you deserve to be an All-Star?

Devin Williams heard the question countless times over the past week -- after multiple roster replacement announcements failed to deliver the news that he and his teammates believed was coming. He was starting to get a little irritated by the whole thing: Yes, Williams did think he was deserving. But the decision was out of his hands, so why keep asking?

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: Tuesday on FOX

Williams heard those fateful words again one final time after Saturday's tough loss in San Francisco. But this time, Williams couldn't muster up any exasperation.

"One hundred percent," he said, unable to keep himself from smiling.

That was because, at long last, Williams was finally an All-Star. The 27-year-old right-hander was named to his first career All-Star team as a replacement for Atlanta's Max Fried.

"It's been a long road to get here, a lot of hard work," Williams said. "It's nice to be appreciated for all my efforts."

Williams joins Corbin Burnes, who won't pitch, and Josh Hader, who has opted to spend the break with his wife and newborn son, as the Brewers' 2022 All-Star representatives. This is the second time in franchise history -- and the second straight season -- that at least three Brewers pitchers have been selected to the All-Star team. Burnes, Freddy Peralta and Brandon Woodruff made the team in 2021.

One of the most effective relievers in the Majors this season, Williams is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA -- striking out 59 batters while issuing just 19 walks. He has held opponents to a .146 batting average (18-for-123) and his 39 appearances lead Milwaukee's relief corps.

"I think just trying to win that game for the National League, having Devin Williams in the game is necessary," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "He's pitching at such a high level right now. His first half has been pretty remarkable.

"He's just pitching beautifully, in complete command and control of everything he's doing and every pitch he's throwing."

Williams' 23 holds this season lead the Majors, and he ranks third among MLB relievers in strikeouts (59) and strikeouts per nine innings (14.89). He has held his opponents scoreless in his last 24 2/3 innings pitched (26 outings), which is tied with Houston's Ryne Stanek for the longest active scoreless innings streak in baseball. Williams' scoreless appearances have been crucial for a struggling Brewers bullpen that has posted a 5.97 ERA in its last 10 games.

"We've just played so many close games," Counsell said, "so his innings have obviously been really valuable because this last stretch … every game we've won has been close."

That Williams was not named to the NL All-Star roster when the reserves were first announced last Sunday was seen as a snub by both the fanbase and the club itself. Ask any of Williams' teammates, and they'll say that leaving him off the team in the first place was a mistake.

"He should have been an All-Star from the beginning," Hunter Renfroe said without hesitation. "There ain't no question about that."

The numbers speak for themselves: Williams has been one of the most dependable relievers in baseball this season. He knows it, too. But regardless, it was special for him to finally get the call he was waiting for.

"It's always nice to get recognized," Williams said. "I feel like I'm one of the best and I feel like I should be recognized as such. So this is one of those honors."