Guardians offer bittersweet announcement regarding injured relief arm

In September 2024, Andrew Walters made his big league debut for the Guardians and tossed eight scoreless innings across the final two weeks of the season and was added to Cleveland’s postseason roster. 

Not much has gone right for him since. 

After suffering shoulder stiffness in the following spring training, he appeared in just two games last year before suffering a season-ending lat injury that has lingered into this season. 

And that injury bug bit Walters again last week when he went on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Columbus with right elbow discomfort. But while that injury sounds scary, MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins reported that Walters underwent a clean MRI and should be able to build back up fairly quickly once the inflammation subsides. 

Although Walters’ injury knocks him out of the team’s short-term picture, it opens the door for him to once again be a late-season weapon so long as his recovery goes okay. 

Andrew Walters could still help the Guardians later this season

Even if Walters’ 2024 cameo was clearly a small sample size, he made one heck of a first impression. Along with holding opposing batters scoreless, he didn’t give up a ball that was registered as a barrel while recording a whiff rate of 33% and an expected batting average of .178. 

Walters built himself back up in the minors last year and had a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings in Triple-A before being recalled at the end of May. He appeared in two big league games last season and allowed two earned runs across 1 1/3 innings of work before suffering his injury, which ended up requiring surgery. 

He worked his way back in the minors earlier this year, but had a 7.30 ERA in 12 1/3 innings before going on the shelf. 

Even if Walters won’t be a part of the Guardians’ bullpen in June or July, he could still make another big league cameo later this year. 

Walters would immediately shoot into Cleveland's middle-leverage equation alongside Colin Holderman and Hunter Gaddis. While the back of Cleveland’s bullpen has been its usual steady self, Cleveland’s cycled through a variety of low-leverage options. 

Right now that spot in the Guardians’ bullpen is held by Daniel Espino, but Walters could fill in for either him or Matt Festa. 

Walters has lingered in Cleveland’s bullpen like a poltergeist; he’s been present on the periphery, but never has been stable enough to be thought of as an actual option. 

And while it may seem counterintuitive to think of this injury as something that could help Walters join the Guardians’ big league bullpen, it should help him get the requisite rest needed to become a big league factor for the Guardians.

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