In case you don’t remember, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Andrew Walters was one of the most talented relievers in the farm in 2024, when he forced his way up to the MLB squad with some brilliant performances in Double-A and Triple-A.
He even had a perfect ERA in 8.2 frames during that 2024 stretch run after receiving the call, and pitched three innings in the postseason with a solid 3.00 ERA. In late May 2024, however, Walters suffered a painful injury, and everything changed.
A high-grade right lat strain ended his season and forced him to go under the knife. After a long recovery, he is making strides, but won’t be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign.
“Walters seriously injured his right lat muscle — it tore away from his shoulder bone — last year and required surgery on June 9. He’s been throwing bullpen sessions, playing long toss, and should start throwing batting practice in the next two weeks,” team insider Paul Hoynes wrote.
Generally speaking, Walters’ recovery is going along nicely, considering the ugly injury he suffered. He still has some items to cross off the list, though.
The fact that he is already throwing bullpens is nice, but as Hoynes says, he will need to progress to live batting practice for the team to have an idea of how long he will be out. He needs to feel that adrenaline rush that pitchers experience when they compete against a hitter.
Once he clears the hurdle of facing live hitters from a mound, he will need to accumulate some innings in a minor league rehab assignment. The idea is for him to regain his rhythm and feel for his mechanics on the mound while facing live competition in a low-stress environment.
Once he has accumulated some innings in the high minors, the Guardians will consider him for a call-up if need be. A healthy Walters should definitely have a spot in Cleveland’s bullpen, but it all will depend on circumstances.
Perhaps guys like Peyton Pallette, Colin Holderman, or Codi Heuer are all pitching well when Walters is ready, forcing him to wait a few weeks. In any case, Walters’ progress and how effective he looks in his assignment will determine his fate.
This is, potentially, a dominant, high-leverage arm for the Guardians. But he needs to prove he is fully healthy first.
NEXT: Guardians Catcher Could Be Poised For Big Breakout
