Michael King Bio
Michael McRae King is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed pitcher, he has built his career as both a reliever and a starter since making his MLB debut in 2019. Before joining the Padres, King spent his first major league seasons with the New York Yankees. He is widely recognized for his sharp slider and for pitching the first immaculate inning in the long history of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry.
Drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2016, King worked his way through the minor leagues before reaching the majors. He later became a reliable member of the Yankees’ pitching staff and a key piece of the trade that brought Juan Soto to New York. After establishing himself as a starter in San Diego, King signed a long-term contract to remain with the Padres.
Early Life and Background
Michael McRae King was born on May 25, 1995, in the United States. He grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he attended Bishop Hendricken High School. At Bishop Hendricken, he played for the school’s baseball team as both a pitcher and an outfielder, gaining early experience on the mound and at the plate.
During his junior year in 2012, King helped Bishop Hendricken win the Division I state championship, a formative moment in his development as a competitive player. The following season, in 2013, he was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for Rhode Island after posting a 7–0 win–loss record and a 0.30 earned run average with 67 strikeouts and seven walks in 47 innings pitched. He also batted .469 as an outfielder that year.
After graduating from Bishop Hendricken in 2013, King enrolled at Boston College, where he played college baseball for the Boston College Eagles. In the summer of 2015, he sharpened his skills with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most respected collegiate summer leagues in the country.
Path to Baseball
King’s path to professional baseball began in earnest when the Miami Marlins selected him in the 12th round, with the 353rd overall pick, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the organization and made his professional debut that season with the Gulf Coast Marlins of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He was quickly promoted to the Batavia Muckdogs of the Low–A New York-Penn League and then to the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Single–A South Atlantic League, finishing his first year with a 3–3 record and a 4.11 ERA across roughly 30 innings.
In 2017, King spent the full season with Greensboro and went 11–9 with a 3.14 ERA in 26 games, 25 of which were starts. His steady development as a starting pitcher caught the attention of other organizations. On November 20, 2017, the Marlins traded King and international signing bonus money to the New York Yankees in exchange for Caleb Smith and Garrett Cooper, beginning the next phase of his career.
Michael King Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
After being traded to the Yankees, King began the 2018 season with the Tampa Tarpons of the High–A Florida State League. He earned midseason promotions to the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League, climbing three levels in a single year. His movement through the Yankees’ system reflected the organization’s growing belief in his potential.
The Yankees invited King to spring training in 2019 as a non-roster player, but a stress reaction in his pitching elbow kept him off the mound that spring. He recovered during the minor league season and was promoted to the major leagues on September 19, 2019. Two days later, on September 27, he made his MLB debut versus the Texas Rangers, pitching two innings in relief and officially beginning his big league career.
New York Yankees Breakthrough (2019–2023)
King’s first full major league season came in the shortened 2020 campaign, when he posted a 7.76 ERA across 26+2⁄3 innings in nine appearances, including four starts. The following year, he improved his slider with the help of teammate Corey Kluber, and the adjustment paid off. On June 4, 2021, during a game against the Boston Red Sox, King pitched an immaculate inning in the fourth, striking out three batters on only nine pitches. It was the seventh immaculate inning in Yankees history and the first in the history of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry.
Injuries tested King’s resilience during his Yankees tenure. A right middle finger contusion put him on the injured list in July 2021, and he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list before being activated in September. He finished 2021 with a 3.55 ERA in 63+1⁄3 innings, recording 62 strikeouts and 24 walks. The 2022 season brought both milestones and setbacks: he earned his first major league save on April 14, 2022, but later fractured his right elbow in a July start against the Baltimore Orioles, ending his season.
King opened 2023 in the Yankees bullpen, but when injuries thinned the rotation, manager Aaron Boone moved him into the starting group in August. He responded with a 2.75 ERA across 49 appearances, including a 1.88 ERA in eight starts. Boone later stated that he expected King to remain in the rotation in 2024, signaling a transition in his role.
San Diego Padres Era (2024–Present)
On December 6, 2023, the Yankees traded King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vásquez, Jhony Brito, and Kyle Higashioka to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. The deal gave King a fresh opportunity as a full-time starter. In 2024, he made 31 appearances, 30 of them starts, compiling a 13–9 record and a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts over 173+2⁄3 innings, establishing himself as a frontline arm for San Diego.
On April 13, 2025, King pitched a complete-game shutout against the Colorado Rockies, the first complete game and complete-game shutout of his career. He threw 110 pitches, struck out eight, and allowed just two hits and a walk. The performance capped a three-game sweep in which the Rockies were held scoreless in all three games and extended the Padres’ franchise record for home wins to open a season to 10. Later that season, shoulder inflammation and a left knee issue sent him to the injured list twice, but he returned to the mound each time. Following the 2025 season, King declined the mutual option in his contract and became a free agent. On December 18, 2025, he re-signed with the Padres on a three-year, $75 million contract running through 2028.
Driving Style and Strengths
King is known for his sharp breaking slider, which he refined with the help of veteran Corey Kluber during his Yankees years. He pairs that pitch with a strong four-seam fastball and an effective changeup, allowing him to miss bats and limit hard contact. His ability to work quickly, attack the strike zone, and adapt between relief and starting roles has made him a versatile arm and a trusted presence on the mound.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among King’s signature moments are his 2021 immaculate inning against the Boston Red Sox, the first in the history of that rivalry, and his first career complete-game shutout against the Colorado Rockies in April 2025. His inclusion in the December 2023 trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees also stands as a defining transaction of his career.
Michael King Career Wins
Michael King has built a steady résumé of wins across the minor leagues and Major League Baseball, beginning with his professional debut in 2016. His path from a 12th-round draft pick to a frontline starter reflects years of consistent development and resilience through injuries.
MLB Highlights
Through his time with the Yankees and Padres, King has accumulated wins as both a reliever and a starter. He earned his first major league save on April 14, 2022, against the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2024, his first full season as a starter with San Diego, he went 13–9 with a 2.95 ERA. His first career complete-game shutout came on April 13, 2025, against the Colorado Rockies, marking a high point of his career to date.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the majors, King posted an 11–9 record with a 3.14 ERA for the Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2017. Earlier, in high school, he was named the 2013 Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for Rhode Island after a 7–0 season, highlighting the winning foundation he carried into professional baseball.
Michael King Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Michael King’s family background are not widely documented in public sources. He grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island, and developed his baseball skills in that community, but specific information about his parents and immediate family members is not confirmed in available records.
Personal Life
Michael McRae King keeps much of his personal life private, and limited public information is available about his relationships or family beyond his professional accomplishments. His social media presence includes accounts on X and Instagram, where he occasionally shares updates with fans.
2025 Season Performance
Michael King’s 2025 campaign with the San Diego Padres was defined by both brilliance and adversity. He opened the season with a historic performance on April 13, pitching a complete-game shutout against the Colorado Rockies and capping a three-game sweep that extended the Padres’ franchise record for home wins to open a season to 10. The outing was the first complete game of his career and showcased his growth as a frontline starter.
His season was later interrupted by injuries. On May 25, 2025, King was placed on the injured list due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 7. After returning, he started against the Boston Red Sox on August 9, but the Padres placed him back on the injured list on August 14 because of inflammation in his left knee. He was activated again about a month later, closing out the year on the mound.
Following the 2025 season, King declined the mutual option in his contract and entered free agency, only to re-sign with the Padres on December 18, 2025, on a three-year, $75 million deal that runs through 2028. The agreement underscored San Diego’s confidence in him as a long-term rotation cornerstone and set the stage for his continued role with the club.
