| Drew Waters | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Waters with the Royals in 2023 | |
| Kansas City Royals – No. 8 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1998-12-30)December 30, 1998 (age 26) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 22, 2022, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .234 |
| Home runs | 14 |
| Runs batted in | 65 |
| Stolen bases | 21 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Andrew David Waters (born December 30, 1998) is an American professionalbaseballoutfielder for theKansas City Royals ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Waters graduated fromEtowah High School inWoodstock, Georgia. As a senior, he batted .516 with 15 home runs and 40 RBIs, leading Etowah to a Class 7A state championship title.[1] After the season, he was named the GeorgiaGatorade Player of the Year and the Metro Atlanta High School Player of the Year.[2][3] He committed to playcollege baseball at theUniversity of Georgia for theGeorgia Bulldogs.[4] His brother Zach Waters played college baseball for East Tennessee State and the University of Georgia and is the Assistant Coach of the varsity baseball team for Etowah High School.
TheAtlanta Braves selected Waters in the second round, with the 41st overall selection, of the2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Braves for a $1.5 millionsigning bonus, forgoing his commitment to Georgia.[5][6]
After signing, Waters made his professional debut with therookie–levelGulf Coast League Braves. Afterbatting .347/.448/.571 with two home runs, ten RBI, and seven walks, he was promoted to theDanville Braves of theRookie AdvancedAppalachian League, where he finished the season.[7] In 36 games for Danville, he slashed .255/.331/.383 with two home runs and 14 RBI.[8] In 2018, he began with theRome Braves of theSingle–ASouth Atlantic League, with whom he earned All-Star honors, and was promoted to theFlorida Fire Frogs of theHigh–AFlorida State League on August 1.[9][10] In 114 games between the two clubs, he slashed .293/.343/.476 with nine home runs, 39 RBI, and 23 stolen bases.[11] In 2019, he began with theMississippi Braves of theDouble–ASouthern League and was named an All-Star.[12][13] In August, he was promoted to theGwinnett Stripers of theTriple–AInternational League.[14][15] Over 134 games with the two teams, Waters batted .309/.360/.459 with seven home runs, 52 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. He was named theSouthern League Most Valuable Player.[16] After the season, he was selected for theUnited States national baseball team in the2019 WBSC Premier 12.[17]
Waters did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[18] He was added to Atlanta's 60-man player pool and trained with other players in the pool inGwinnett during the summer.[19][20] For the 2021 season, he was assigned to Gwinnett, now members of theTriple-A East.[21] In June, Waters was selected to play in theAll-Star Futures Game atCoors Field.[22] Over 103 games played for Gwinnett, Waters slashed .240/.329/.381 with 11 home runs, 37 RBI, and 28 stolen bases.[23] On November 18, 2021, the Braves added Waters to the 40-man roster.[24]
Waters began the 2022 season on theinjured list for Gwinnett.[25] He was activated in early May.[26] Over 49 games with Gwinnett, he batted .246 with five home runs and 16 RBIs.[27]
On July 11, 2022, the Braves traded Waters,CJ Alexander, andAndrew Hoffmann to theKansas City Royals in exchange for the 35th overall pick in the2022 Major League Baseball draft, a competitive balance pick that Atlanta used onJR Ritchie.[28] The Royals optioned Waters to theOmaha Storm Chasers.[29] Over 31 games with Omaha, he hit .295 with seven home runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.[30]
On August 22, 2022, the Royals promoted Waters to the major leagues.[31] He collected his first career hit on August 24, a single off ofArizona Diamondbacks starterZac Gallen.[32] On September 5, Waters hit his first career home run, a two–run shot off ofCleveland Guardians starterTriston McKenzie.[33] In 32 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .240/.324/.479 with five home runs and 18 RBI.
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Waters played in 98 games for the Royals in 2023, hitting .229/.300/.378 with 8 home runs, 32 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.[34] Waters was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2024 season.[35] He was with the Royals for two stretches, playing 3 games in mid-June, then 4 games in July. He batted .188 with one double and two walks in 19 plate appearances.[36] With Omaha, he hit .290 with 13 home runs and 7 stolen bases in 109 games.[37]
Waters was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2025 season.[38] While playing for the Storm Chasers, Watershit for the cycle for the first time in his professional career and was namedInternational League Player of the Week for March 31 through April 6.[39]
