Andrew Walters: Everything you need to know

Walters (lat) struck out the side in the eighth inning Friday for Triple-A Columbus. Walters made his fourth rehab appearance and has fanned nine batters over four innings. Where his first outing indicated a noticeable reduction in velocity, the right-hander's velo bounced back in subsequent appearances. There's been significant downtime in between his outings -- two or three days of rest -- which suggests Walters will not come off the 15-day injured list in the short term. MLB.com pegs him for a potential return at some point in May.

Walters (lat) was charged with two runs on one hit and one walk over an inning of work in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday. Walters averaged 94 mph with his four-seamer, which is down 2.4 mph from his average with the Guardians last season prior to lat surgery. The velocity could come back as he further distances himself from the operation, but if it doesn't, the Guardians might opt to keep Walters at Columbus for a while rather than stick him back in the big-league bullpen.

The Guardians placed Walters (lat) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. The right-hander is working his way back from last year's lat surgery and has progressed to throwing live bullpen sessions. Walters will need at least a handful of rehab games before being cleared to make his season debut for the Guardians.