The people have spoken and right-handed reliever Andrew Walters is our No. 20 Cleveland Guardians prospect for 2026. It was a tough final vote, but Walters came out on top with 26.2% of the vote, defeating the likes of the likes of Dauri Fernandez (15.5%), Austin Peterson (11.9%), Jacob Cozart (16.7%) and Petey Halpin (10.7%). Walters drops nine spots after being the No. 11 prospect in 2025.
Walters was selected by Cleveland in the competitive balance portion of the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami. Unlike many pitching prospects, he had always been a reliever, even in college.
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He made his pro debut by beginning the 2024 season at Double-A Akron where he flat out dominated to the tune of a 1.35 ERA and a ridiculous 17.1 K/9 with a puny 3.6 BB/9 over 17 appearances spanning 20 innings pitched. Walters quickly was promoted to Triple-A Columbus, where he had a wake-up call, giving up four runs in his first appearance with the Clippers.
He quickly put the jitters aside, however, putting up a 1.84 ERA over 32 games at Triple-A, striking out 41 batters in 29.1 innings pitched.
Walters earned a trip to Cleveland upon the conclusion of the Triple-A season, where he did not allow a run over nine appearances at the MLB level, although his command wasn’t quite as effective and his strikeout rate dipped. This still earned him an opportunity to pitch on Cleveland’s postseason roster. He made four appearances in the playoffs, allowing one run in 3.0 innings with four strikeouts, proving he was ready for primetime.
The flamethrowing right-hander was expected to be a key Cog in Cleveland’s bullpen for 2025, but it turned into a lost season. He battled shoulder soreness throughout Spring Training, which forced him to begin the year at Triple-A. Then he pitched just 1.1 innings in Cleveland before tearing his right lat tendon, which ended his season and required surgery.
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Depending on his recovery timetable, Walters could miss the beginning of the 2026 campaign as well, but as long as he returns at 100%, he’ll slot right back in as a reliever the team will hopefully be able to rely on for years to come.
Thank you all for voting for this year’s top 20 Cleveland Guardians prospects!
Our list:
1. Chase DeLauter, LHH OF
2. Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B
3. Parker Messick, LHP
4. Ralphy Velazquez, LHH 1B/RF
5. Angel Genao, SH SS
6. Braylon Doughty, RHP
7. Cooper Ingle, LHH C
8. Khal Stephen, RHP
9. Juan Brito, SH 2B/1B/RF/3B
10. Jaison Chourio, SH OF
11. Kahlil Watson, LHH OF
12. Daniel Espino, RHP
13. George Valera, LHH OF
14. Jace LaViolette, LHH OF
15. Joey Oakie, RHP
16. Alfonsin Rosario, RHH OF
17. Juneiker Caceres, LHH OF
18. Yorman Gomez, RHP
19. Josh Hartle, LHP
20. Andrew Walters, RHP
