RubberDucks have a pitcher who throws 100 mph and he could be with the Guardians very soon
Don’t look now, but there’s another pitcher who throws 100 mph on the fast track to the Cleveland Guardians.
He’s Andrew Walters and he’s with the RubberDucks now at the Double A level, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the show this season or next.
Two years ago, the 6-foot-4 right-hander bet on himself, and now he could be the fastest riser to the big league level.
The 23-year-old was the 527th pick in the 2022 draft by the Baltimore Orioles but opted to go back to Miami. Fast forward a year later and Cleveland took him in the second round with the 62nd pick.
“I honestly probably wouldn't be sitting here right now if I didn't gamble on myself,” Walters said. “It was one of those things where that year made me a lot better baseball player and it provided me with a better opportunity. Now, it doesn't always work that way, but you’ve got to gamble a little bit. I feel like over that span of time I became a better baseball player and prepared myself for this level of ball.”
Andrew Walters already has the stuff to be with the Guardians
Walters made 71 career appearances at Miami and pitched 102 innings with a 1.41 ERA and 170 strikeouts.
He amassed a 4-1 record with 26 saves and ranked among the NCAA’s active career leaders in ERA, saves and strikeouts per nine innings.
For that, Walters was named a consensus first-team All-American and was the only reliever on the 17-man team.
“He's special talent,” Ducks manager Greg DiCenzo said. “Obviously, he's got some incredible tools that he's able to lean on but, to be honest with you, there's still meat on the bone. It's not a finished product and it's not polished yet, and that's not to detract what he's done for us and what he will hopefully be able to do sooner than later in Cleveland at some point.
“I think he is a professional and he understands that there are things to work on every single day and that the product that you're seeing today hopefully won't be the same product you see later in 2024. You're hoping that he’s going to continue to be a right-handed pitcher in the bullpen in Cleveland for a long time. He knows how to execute and pitch to the big spots.”
Andrew Walters comfortable in Cleveland Guardians orginization
After drafting Walters last season, Cleveland put him in the instructional league to build him into throwing shape and rest him a bit.
The returns have been outstanding.
In the eight games and 11⅓ innings he’s pitched with the RubberDucks, Walters is 2-0 with two saves, a 0.79 ERA and a team-high 24 strikeouts.
“One of the quotes I like to use is, ‘Pitch where your feet are, but look for other places to stand,’” Ducks pitching coach Cody Buckel said. “You can look ahead but in order to get there you have ask yourself what do you have to do now to get there?
“It's fine to have a forecast of what Columbus looks like or even looks what it looks like in Cleveland, but in order to get there there are steps that need to be taken here, and Walt's been great about that. He understands that this is professional baseball coming in. He's never done a full season before, so he's been great to partner with and work through some of those things that it requires to be a relief picture at the major league level.”
Of course, having a 100 mph fastball and wicked slider helps. Walters knew he needed a third pitch and added a split-finger fastball that is nearly major league ready.
“That’s very important because these guys are at a different level just coming at them with fastballs,” Walters said. “They'll eventually be on time with it and the other pitch adds more to the fastball. It's my best pitch, and being able to throw the slider and splitter down almost makes the baseball do more.”
The fact he’s even keeled helps as well and has the entire organization amped for what the next step is.
Until then, Walters will bask in the glow of a team that prides itself on having some of the best arms in the game.
“I’ve absolutely bought in,” Walters said. “As soon as I got here, they were all in on me. I didn’t know what pro ball was going to entail. There was a lot of a development to it, and I really enjoyed that. I dove deep and it’s kind of been an all-hands-on-deck thing in making you the best pitcher you can be. It’s a great place to be.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians have another 100 mph standout waiting in the wings
