Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Walters (lat) underwent surgery on his right lat on Monday, according to MLB.com's Tim Stebbins. It's a pretty significant surgery, so Walters should be expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Depending on how his recovery goes this winter, there's a chance he might not be ready for spring training or the 2026 season, either. The club's No. 11 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was moved to the 60-day injured list recently and had been out since late May. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of Miami made two appearances out of the bullpen for the Guards this year and surrendered two earned runs while walking none and striking out two in just 1 1/3 innings. Walters features a mid-to-high-90s heater with a plus slider and has the making of a future closer at the big-league level if he can improve his command.

Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Andrew Walters (shoulder) threw live batting practice on Wednesday. Walters has been dealing with shoulder soreness throughout camp. However, seeing him return to the bump to face live hitters is a positive sign and could provide him an opportunity to be cleared for Opening Day. Last season, Walters made his MLB debut. The right-hander tossed eight 2/3 shutout innings. He tallied six punchouts and generated a stellar .174 xBA. He was dominant in the minor league as well. He began the season at Double-A where he posted a 1,35 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP across 20 innings of work. He posted a 2.97 ERA at Triple-A with a 1.22 WHIP and 41 punchouts across 30 1/3 innings of work. If he were to return to spring training games, he will likely continue to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.