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Milwaukee Brewers’ Devin Williams looks for return to 2020 form that earned him National League Rookie of the Year

The Brewers’ Devin Williams throws during an intrasquad game in Milwaukee on July 21. (AP file photo)

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams says the shoulder soreness that kept the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year from pitching in the playoffs shouldn’t impact his readiness for the start of the season.

Williams also doesn’t expect it to hamper his comfort level in throwing the changeup that became one of baseball’s most unhittable pitches last season.

“I’ve been throwing my changeup for a month and a half, two months now,” Williams said Friday from the Brewers’ spring-training site in Phoenix. “So it’s in a good spot. I’m not worried about it.”

The Brewers are being cautious with Williams as he works his way back. The 26-year-old right-hander says he doesn’t expect to make his Cactus League debut until after the Brewers’ second scheduled off day, which is March 17.

Williams noted that he has done three bullpen sessions already and added that “everything’s been going according to plan.”

Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team poses for a team photo this spring. (AP photo)

“Everything has gone well,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’re very happy with how it’s going, really. We’re on a nice schedule, we’re sticking to it and he’s responded very well to it and he’s feeling good.”

The shoulder issue caused the Brewers to leave Williams off the roster for their first-round playoff series loss to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

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