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 IP 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 SV, 170 SO and a 0.81 WHIP in 71 G (1 GS) for the Hurricanes from 2021-23...Ranked first in ERA and second in SV in NCAA D1 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...Favorites- Movie: The Equalizer Series; Artist: Jason Aldean; Athlete: Michael Phelps; Team: The U; Favorite TV Show: Blacklist; School Subject: Math.
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.
