| Andrew Walters | |
| Team: | Cleveland Guardians |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 8 December 2000 |
| Birth Place: | Palm Bay, Florida, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
Andrew Wayne Walters (born December 8, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Cleveland Guardians organization.
Walters grew up in Palm Bay, Florida and attended Bayside High School.[1]
Walters began his college baseball career at Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) and played one season, which was cut short due to Covid-19 and did not count towards his collegiate eligibility. In 2021, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2] He transferred to Miami after his one season at EFSC.[3] Walters made 19 appearances and had a 1.46 ERA with 36 strikeouts and nine walks in his first season with the Hurricanes.[4] He was named Miami's closer entering his redshirt sophomore season and was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) after leading the conference with 14 saves.[5] Walters was selected in the 18th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but opted to return to Miami for his redshirt junior season.[6] He was named a consensus first-team All-American in 2023 after finishing the season with a 4-0, 12 saves, and 1.21 ERA with 72 strikeouts in innings pitched over 28 appearances.[7]
Walters was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the second round, with the 62nd overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[8] On July 22, 2023, Walters signed with Cleveland for a below slot deal worth $955,275.[9]
Walters' parents were college athletes at Florida Tech with his father playing basketball and his mother playing softball.[10] His uncle, Matt Walters, played college football at Miami and was a starting defensive tackle on the Hurricanes' 2001 National Championship team before playing in the NFL for the New York Jets.[3]