Miami’s Andrew Walters rejected MLB offer last year. A year later, he jumps up to Day 1
Andrew Walters has been the best closer n the country for the last few years and now the Miami Hurricanes’ star pitcher is headed to MLB.
The Cleveland Guardians took the right-handed pitcher with the top pick in Competitive Balance Round B — No. 62 overall — of the 2023 MLB draft Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, giving Miami a pair of first-day MLB draft picks.
Star third baseman Yohandy Morales went 22 spots earlier to the Nationals at No. 40 after surprisingly falling out of the first round.
Walters was an 18th-round pick last year by the Orioles, but turned down an offer to return to Coral Gables and try to boost his draft stock. Now, the 22-year-old will almost certainly sign with the Guardians to begin his professional career after jumping all the way into the top 75.
The 6-foot-4, 222-pound righty was virtually unhittable throughout his three seasons as a Hurricane, especially when coming out of the bullpen. In 102 innings, Walters gave up just 61 hits and 14 earned runs for a 1.25 ERA.
Last year, he logged 44 2/3 innings, allowed only 29 hits, struck out 72 and walked just seven, and put up a 1.21 ERA.
Walters, who played in high school at Palm Bay Bayside, is one of the most unlikely draft prospects on Miami’s roster. He was unrecruited out of high school and started out at junior college at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. He got a scholarship offer from the Hurricanes after just one season and immediately became one of the best relievers in the Atlantic Coast Conference once he got down to South Florida.
Miami briefly toyed with the idea of using Walters as a starting pitcher — he made one start in his career — before ultimately sticking with him as a relief pitcher throughout his entire career.
