| John King | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:September 14, 1994 Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 4, 2020, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 16–14 |
| Earned run average | 3.80 |
| Strikeouts | 165 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
John Edward King (born September 14,1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals.
King attended William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land,Texas. [1] He played college baseball at Angelina College in Lufkin,Texas in 2014 and 2015. [2] He then attended the University of Houston for two years (2016 and 2017),playing for the Cougars. [3] [4] He tore the UCL in his left elbow during his senior season and continued to pitch through the injury. [5] He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round,with the 314th overall selection,of the 2017 MLB draft,and signed with them for a $10,000 signing bonus. [6] [7]
Upon signing,King underwent Tommy John surgery on July 5,2017. [7] He rehabbed through the majority of the 2018 season,returning that September and appearing in one game for the AZL Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League and in three games for the Spokane Indians of the Low-A Northwest League. [7] [8] He was assigned to the Hickory Crawdads of the Single-A South Atlantic League to open the 2019 season,and went 1–2 with a 3.42 ERA over 26+1⁄3 innings. [9] He was promoted to the Down East Wood Ducks of the High-A Carolina League on May 10, [10] [11] and went 2–4 with a 2.03 ERA over 71 innings for them. [12]
On September 4, 2020, King’s contract was selected to the active roster and made his major league debut that day against the Seattle Mariners. [13] In 10+1⁄3 innings for Texas in 2020, King went 1–0 with a 6.10 ERA and 9 strikeouts. Over 46 innings in 2021 for Texas, King posted a 7–5 record with a 3.52 ERA and 40 strikeouts. [14] King was placed on the IL in July, and underwent surgery for Thoracic outlet syndrome in September 2021. [15]
King split the 2022 season between Texas and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. With Texas he posted a 1–4 record with a 4.03 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 50+1⁄3 innings; with Round Rock he went 2–1 with a 7.27 ERA over 17+1⁄3 innings. [16]
King was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2023 season. [17]
On July 30, 2023, the Rangers traded King, Tekoah Roby, and Thomas Saggese to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton. [18] In 20 appearances out of the bullpen, he recorded a 1.45 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 18+2⁄3 innings pitched.
King was optioned to the Triple–A Memphis Redbirds to begin the 2024 season. [19]
On November 21, 2025, King was non-tendered by the Cardinals and became a free agent. [20]
