| Michael King | |
|---|---|
 King in 2021 | |
| San Diego Padres – No. 34 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1995-05-25)May 25, 1995 (age 30) Rochester, New York, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 27, 2019, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 31–29 |
| Earned run average | 3.24 |
| Strikeouts | 559 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Michael McRae King (born May 25, 1995) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theSan Diego Padres ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theNew York Yankees. He made his MLB debut in 2019.
King attendedBishop Hendricken High School inWarwick, Rhode Island. He played for the school's baseball team as apitcher and anoutfielder, and helped the team win the Division I state championship in 2012, his junior year. In 2013, he was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for Rhode Island after pitching to a 7–0win–loss record and a 0.30earned run average (ERA) with 67strikeouts and sevenwalks in 47innings pitched. He also had a .469batting average as anoutfielder.[1][2]
King graduated from Bishop Hendricken in 2013 and enrolled atBoston College, where he playedcollege baseball for theBoston College Eagles.[3][4] In 2015, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theHyannis Harbor Hawks of theCape Cod Baseball League.[5]
TheMiami Marlins selected King in the 12th round, with the 353rd overall selection, of the2016 Major League Baseball draft. He signed and made his professional debut that season with theGulf Coast Marlins of theRookie-levelGulf Coast League before being promoted to theBatavia Muckdogs of theLow–ANew York-Penn League and then to theGreensboro Grasshoppers of theSingle–ASouth Atlantic League. In30+2⁄3innings pitched between the three teams, he finished the season with a 3–3 record and a 4.11 ERA. He spent the 2017 season with Greensboro, where he went 11–9 with a 3.14 ERA in 26 games (25 starts).[6]
On November 20, 2017, the Marlins traded King and international signing bonus money to theNew York Yankees in exchange forCaleb Smith andGarrett Cooper.[3] He began the 2018 season with theTampa Tarpons of theHigh–AFlorida State League, and earned midseason promotions to theTrenton Thunder of theDouble–AEastern League andScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of theTriple–AInternational League.[7][8]
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The Yankees invited King tospring training as a non-roster player in 2019.[9] He suffered a stress reaction in his pitching elbow and did not pitch in spring training.[10] The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on September 19.[11] He made his major league debut on September 27 versus theTexas Rangers, pitching two innings inrelief.[12] In the shortened 60-game season in 2020, King recorded a 7.76 ERA in26+2⁄3 innings pitched across nine appearances, including fourgames started.[13][14]
Over the course of the 2021 season, King improved hisslider with the assistance ofCorey Kluber, a teammate.[15] On June 4, during a game against theBoston Red Sox, King pitched animmaculate inning in the fourth inning, with three strikeouts on only nine pitches; it was the seventh in Yankees history and the first in the history of theYankees–Red Sox rivalry.[16] On July 8, King was placed on the injured list with a right middle finger contusion.[17] He was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 27.[18] King was activated on September 10.[19] He finished the 2021 season with a 3.55 ERA in63+1⁄3 innings, recording 62 strikeouts and 24 walks.[20]
King opened the 2022 season in the Yankees bullpen.[21] He earned his first major leaguesave on April 14, 2022.[22] While playing against theBaltimore Orioles on July 22, King left the game with an elbow injury.[23] His right elbow was fractured, and he underwent surgery that ruled him out for the rest of the season.[24]
In spring training in 2023, King suggested tomanagerAaron Boone that he could be used as astarting pitcher. He started the season as a reliever, but injuries to Yankees starters led to King becoming a starter in August.[25] He had a 2.75 ERA in 49 appearances for the season, with a 1.88 ERA in eight games started. Boone said he expected that King will pitch out of thestarting rotation in 2024.[26]
On December 6, 2023, the Yankees traded King,Drew Thorpe,Randy Vásquez,Jhony Brito, andKyle Higashioka to theSan Diego Padres in exchange forJuan Soto andTrent Grisham.[27][28] King made 31 appearances (30 starts) for San Diego during the 2024 campaign, compiling a 13–9 record and 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts across173+2⁄3 innings pitched.[29]
On April 13, 2025, King pitched a complete-game shutout against theColorado Rockies, the first complete game and the first complete-game shutout of his career. He threw 110 pitches, struck out eight, and allowed two hits and a walk. The game capped a three-game sweep in which the Rockies were held scoreless in all three games. The win also extended the Padres' franchise record of home wins to open a season to 10.[30] On May 25, King was placed on the injured list due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder;[31][32] he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 7.[33] After King started against theBoston Red Sox on August 9, the Padres announced on August 14 that he would return to the injured list due to inflammation in his left knee.[34][35] One month later, King would be activated once again from the injured list. Following the season, he declined the mutual option in his contract and became a free agent.[36]
On December 18, 2025, King re-signed with the Padres on a three-year, $75 million contract.[37]
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