Andrew Wayne Walters...Born in Palm Bay, Fla., and graduated from Bayside High School in 2019...Attended Eastern Florida State College in 2020, pitching 18.0 innings for the Titans in a pandemic-shortened season...Transferred to Miami (Fla.) in 2021, going 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA (16 ER/102.0 IP), 26 saves, 170 strikeouts and a 0.81 WHIP in 71 games (one start) for the Hurricanes from 2021-23...Ranked first in ERA and second in saves in NCAA Division 1 among active players in that span...Saved 12 games in 2023 at Miami, garnering consensus First Team All-American honors...Father, Kyle (basketball), and mother, Angela (softball), were both collegiate athletes at Florida Tech...Uncle, Matt, was a starter on the University of Miami's 2001 football team, winners of the National Championship...Favorite movie is The Equalizer series; favorite musical artist is Jason Aldean; favorite athlete is Michael Phelps; favorite team is The U; favorite TV show is Blacklist; favorite subject in school was math.
2025
Entered the year as the 12th-best prospect in the Guardians' system (MLB.com), but his season was derailed from the outset due to multiple arm-related injuries...Was limited to four Spring Training outings due to right shoulder stiffness (DNP Feb. 25-March 14) and was optioned out of camp to Triple-A Columbus on March 24 to fully prepare for the season...Made seven appearances in April (1.35 ERA, one ER/6.2 IP/13 K) before being placed on the seven-day Minor League IL with a right forearm strain from April 20-May 9...Made five more appearances in May (one ER/5.1 IP/10 K) before being recalled to the Major League club on May 28...Made his 2025 ML season debut on May 28 vs. the Dodgers (one ER/1.0 IP) before suffering a season-ending lat tear in his second and final outing on May 30 vs. the Angels (one ER/0.1 IP)...Was placed on the 15-day IL on May 31 and transferred to the 60-day IL on June 6 before undergoing right shoulder surgery to repair the latissimus dorsi (lat) tendon on June 9 in Chicago (Dr. Anthony Romeo; return to pitch expected in 8-10 months)...Season numbers at Triple-A included a .125 average against with a SO/9 IP ratio of 17.25...Allowed an earned run in just two of 12 outings and struck out multiple batters in nine of 12 outings...Right-handed hitters were 2-for-25 (.080) with 17 strikeouts against him.
2024
Entered the year as the #27 prospect in the Guardians system (MLB.com)...Participated in MiLB Spring Training before being assigned to AA Akron on March 27...Struck out three (1 BB) in the March 16 Spring Breakout vs. CIN (6-2, W)...Was effective in 17 games with the RubberDucks, going 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP), two saves, a 1.05 WHIP and 38 strikeouts...Promoted to AAA Columbus on 5/28...Fashioned a 2.97 ERA (10 ER/30.1 IP) in 33 games with the Clippers, ranking 10th among International League relievers with a 12.16 SO/9.0 IP ratio from 5/28 to 9/11...Turned in 15-straight scoreless appearances from 7/30 to 9/8 (12.2 IP), fanning 16 batters while allowing just five hits (.116 BAA) during that span...Was selected by Cleveland on 9/12, becoming the first member of the Guardians 2023 draft class to join the Major League club...Did not allow an earned run in his nine regular-season appearances (1 GS) with the Guards, becoming the first Clevelander to turn the trick since Cody Allen in 2012...Did not yield a hit in his first eight outings, becoming the first Clevelander to allow zero hits in his first eight career games in club history...Was included on Cleveland's ALDS and ALCS rosters, posting a 3.00 ERA (1 ER/3.0 IP) across four Postseason appearances.
