Cleveland Guardians reliever Andrew Walters was on the comeback trail in late April, pitching rehab games in the minor leagues after his severe lat injury in June 2025. It was a serious setback in the right-hander’s young career.
Walters had been getting ready in Triple-A Columbus, but his last appearance came on April 24, when he got two outs via the strikeout with one walk and no runs. Now, we know why he had missed these last couple of weeks.
“Andrew Walters has been returned from his rehab assignment due to a viral illness that has caused him not to pitch since April 24. He is expected to start a new rehab stint in the coming days when he returns to full strength,” the Guardians announce in a statement, according to News 5 Cleveland’s Mason Horodyski.
Statement from the #Guardians on RHP Andrew Walters’ status:
“Andrew Walters has been returned from his rehab assignment due to a viral illness that has caused him not to pitch since April 24. He is expected to start a new rehab stint in the coming days when he returns to full…
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) May 6, 2026
Walters was drafted in 2023 with the 62nd overall pick. His ascent through the minors was quick, as he found himself in the Guardians’ bullpen in the summer of 2024. He pitched 8.2 scoreless frames with them and was a factor in the postseason, too.
He opened the 2025 campaign in the minors but earned a call-up on May 28. Two days later, he tore his lat and his season was over.
When healthy, Walters combines a mid-to-high 90s fastball and a deadly slider to dominate hitters. Control, however, can be spotty, and that was certainly the case last year when he walked 6.75 hitters per nine innings in 12 frames in Columbus, and this season, when he has 4.76 per nine in 5.2.
This viral illness has certainly paused his way up to the majors, and the Guardians could certainly use his best version. However, the good news is that it isn’t a setback related to his lat injury, and that’s always positive.
Walters should be back in Columbus in a matter of days, but to get to Cleveland, he will need to lower his 6.35 Triple-A ERA. In addition to the walks, he has encountered some issues with the long ball, as he has surrendered two homers in just 5.2 frames.
The talent is there for him to be a difference-maker if health is on his side. That hasn’t been the case since May of last year, but the season is still young, and he could resurface and make an impact in the 2026 Guardians.
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