Walters undergoes UCL repair surgery on right elbow, faces 10-12 months recovery
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CLEVELAND -- Andrew Walters’ streak of tough injury luck has continued, and the Guardians’ reliever now faces another lengthy return to the mound.
The Guardians announced Thursday that Walters underwent right UCL repair surgery with an internal brace on Wednesday. Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure in Arlington, Texas, and it comes with an expected return-to-play timeline of 10-12 months.
It means Walters is set to miss at least a chunk of the 2027 season, after the 25-year-old was limited in ‘25 and ‘26 by injury setbacks following a promising stint in the Majors down the stretch in ‘24 -- when he made his MLB debut and played a role in the Guardians’ run to the AL Championship Series.
Cleveland selected Walters in Competitive Balance Round B in the 2023 MLB Draft, and he made his big league debut a little over one year later, on Sept. 12 in ‘24. He allowed one unearned run in 8 2/3 innings over nine appearances in the Majors, which earned him a spot in the Guardians' bullpen in both the ALDS and ALCS.
Walters allowed one run in three innings over four postseason appearances in 2024 while working in high-leverage spots. The Guardians were hopeful he could impact their bullpen in a similar capacity the past two seasons, but injuries led to a pair of lost campaigns.
Walters dealt with right shoulder stiffness during Spring Training last year and spent most of the first two months of the season with Columbus. He made two big league appearances, including May 30, when he suffered a torn right lat that required season-ending surgery.
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Walters opened 2026 with Columbus and logged a 7.30 ERA in 12 1/3 innings over 14 appearances before he went on the 7-day Minor League IL in June with right elbow inflammation. His symptoms persisted through the summer, leading to his meeting with Meister that preceded surgery.
With a four-seam fastball that has reached 98.1 mph in the Majors and that sits in the mid-90s, Walters has shown he has the stuff to impact a game in key spots.
This marks a challenging setback given the potential he has shown us.