 After graduating from Venice High School, Guthrie attended LSU where he led the team in ERA in 1985 and was all SEC first team in 1986.After the 1986 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.He was selected by the Twins in the 7th round of the 1987 amateur entry draft and played in Minnesota from 1989 to 1995.