IP | 17 |
---|---|
ERA | 3.71 |
WHIP | 1.47 |
BB/9 | 7.41 |
SO/9 | 12.71 |
- Full name Andrew Wayne Walters
- Born 12/08/2000 in Palm Bay, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Miami
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Drafted in the CB-B round (62nd overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 (signed for $955,275).
View Draft Report
School: Miami Source: 4YR
Commit/Drafted: Orioles ’22 (18)
Age At Draft: 22.6
BA Grade:45/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 70. Slider: 45. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.
Walters has been a lockdown reliever for Miami after transferring into the program by way of Eastern Florida State JC. He has never posted an ERA in a single season over 1.65 and from 2021 to 2023 in 102 innings, he has posted a 1.41 ERA with a 43.7% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate. He’s been one of the best relievers in college baseball for the last three seasons. He mostly dominates hitters with a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and has been up to 99-100 mph at peak velocity. The pitch has exceptional ride and carry and he also throws from a lower release point despite a 6-foot-4, 222-pound frame. It’s a double-plus pitch that he used at a 78% rate and generated whiffs 36% of the time. Walters also throws a mid-80s slider with a bit of sweeping action at times and has occasionally shown a firm, upper-80s changeup with arm-side fading life. After being drafted in the 18th round by the Orioles in 2022, Walters is now on the older side for college players in the class, but he fits as a priority senior sign type among the top five rounds with one of the best fastballs in the class.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 45/High
Track Record: Walters was the best reliever in college baseball in each of the last two seasons, twice earning first-team All-America honors. While he was draft eligible in 2022—and picked in the 18th round by the Orioles—he opted to return to Miami for a final season. After another impressive season anchoring the Hurricanes’ bullpen, the Guardians drafted him 62nd overall.
Scouting Report: Walters primarily comes right after hitters with his fastball. The pitch can reach triple digits and typically sits in the mid 90s with exceptional ride and carry. The pitch got whiffs 36% of the time, making it one of the best fastballs in the draft class. He mixes in a sweeping slider and a firm changeup with fading life. He pounds the strike zone and pitches with above-average control.
The Future: While there was some talk of Walters moving to the rotation at Miami after his return to school, that never materialized and he’s likely going to continue to develop as a reliever. While that puts a bit of a damper on his prospect value, he has the potential to become a high-leverage reliever. First up will be his professional debut. That will likely come at high Class A Lake County, but don’t expect him to stay in the Midwest League for long.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55.
Draft Prospects
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School: Miami Source: 4YR
Commit/Drafted: Orioles ’22 (18)
Age At Draft: 22.6
BA Grade:45/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 70. Slider: 45. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.
Walters has been a lockdown reliever for Miami after transferring into the program by way of Eastern Florida State JC. He has never posted an ERA in a single season over 1.65 and from 2021 to 2023 in 102 innings, he has posted a 1.41 ERA with a 43.7% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate. He’s been one of the best relievers in college baseball for the last three seasons. He mostly dominates hitters with a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and has been up to 99-100 mph at peak velocity. The pitch has exceptional ride and carry and he also throws from a lower release point despite a 6-foot-4, 222-pound frame. It’s a double-plus pitch that he used at a 78% rate and generated whiffs 36% of the time. Walters also throws a mid-80s slider with a bit of sweeping action at times and has occasionally shown a firm, upper-80s changeup with arm-side fading life. After being drafted in the 18th round by the Orioles in 2022, Walters is now on the older side for college players in the class, but he fits as a priority senior sign type among the top five rounds with one of the best fastballs in the class. -
School: Miami Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 45/High
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: - | Slider: 50 | Changeup: - | Cutter: | Control: 50
Walters started his collegiate career at Eastern Florida State JC before heading to Miami, where he has been a shutdown reliever for the Canes for two seasons. After posting a 1.46 ERA over 24.2 innings during the 2021 season, he moved into the closing role for Miami in 2022 and finished tied for fifth in the country among Division I arms with 14 saves. He posted a 1.65 ERA over 32.2 innings, with 62 strikeouts (51.2 K%) and just six walks (5.0 BB%). Walters lives and dies with his fastball, a potentially elite pitch that sits in the 95-96 mph range, touches 100 and has exceptional ride and carry. The pitch generated whiffs 41% of the time this spring and was borderline unhittable at the top of the strike zone. It’s no wonder he used it more than 90% of the time. Walters also throws a slurvy breaking ball around 80 mph that is fringy but could become an average offering. A strong, 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher, Walters has back-of-the-bullpen upside with an improved breaking ball to complement an outstanding fastball.