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Brewers' Williams regrets infamous wall punch: It was a 'drunken moment'

Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Devin Williams has once again expressed regret over missing the entirety of the postseason after infamously punching a wall and breaking his hand in late September.

"I was upset over an altercation," Williams explained to Will Sammon of The Athletic. "Instead of taking it out on that person, I walked away (and) hit a wall."

When probed about the altercation, Williams added: "I don't really have an answer. I can tell you for sure, though, that it wasn't that I was fighting with my significant other or things that I've seen people say. That's not the case. It was just a drunken moment. It was something stupid. I hit a wall, and I woke up, and my hand (was in pain)."

Once diagnosed with a broken hand, the ace setup man said he apologized to his playoff-bound teammates. Some Brewers were supportive, including Brandon Woodruff and Lorenzo Cain, while others apparently showed their frustration.

Milwaukee was quickly dispatched from the postseason in four games by the Atlanta Braves, who went on to win the World Series. Hunter Strickland was a member of that Brewers' playoff roster who also missed time during the 2018 season because he punched a wall after a blown save attempt. He reached out to Williams about putting his mistake behind him.

"You have to forgive yourself at some point and move on," Strickland texted to Williams. "Otherwise, you're just holding yourself back, keeping yourself from moving forward."

Williams, 27, is expected to be ready for the beginning of the 2022 campaign and has already started throwing again. The 2020 NL Rookie of the Year posted a 2.50 ERA and 2.82 FIP over 54 innings last year, recording three saves while serving as Josh Hader's primary setup man.

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