Brewers spring training update: All-Star closer dealing with back issue

With many players in the unit returning in 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers are set to have one of the most fearsome bullpens in the league once again. Much of that is due to the existence of dominant closer Devin Williams.

The master of the "Airbender" had been a staple of the bullpen for the last few years but took on the closer's role full-time for the first time in 2023. That went so well that Williams won the second NL Reliever of the Year award of his young career.

Williams has made a couple of appearances now this spring in his quest to produce a similarly dominant performance this season. However, it sounds like it could be a little bit before we see the two-time All-Star make his next outing to prep for the 2024 season.

All-Star Brewers closer Devin Williams is reportedly dealing with a back issue this spring.

Prior to this weekend, there didn't seem to be any indication that there was any problem with the health of Williams. But according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, not only has he been dealing with a back issue, but he's apparently already had it looked at by a doctor.

This sort of equates to a good news-bad news type of situation for Williams. It's great that the Brewers don't have a ton of concern for the right-hander's ailment. But the fact that a second opinion is being sought out seems to indicate that there's at least some uncertainty as to the severity of the issue.

As for that first opinion, perhaps that's why the Brewers decided not to jump right into panic mode.

The Brewers appear to think Williams will be fine, but if they do happen to be without their star closer for any amount of time, it's comforting to know that the bullpen would still be in good hands. Pitchers like Abner Uribe and Joel Payamps were excellent themselves in 2023 and would be more than capable of picking up the slack.

Hopefully this issue for Williams is exactly what everyone things and is just something that needs to be managed and moved on from. If so, it will be one more headache for opposing batters late in games against the Brewers.