Inside The Padres

Padres Make Massive Michael King Announcement as Return Nears

Nelson Espinal|
May 12, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
May 12, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres were given a major boost in the National League West race after the organization got a positive update regarding starting pitcher Michael King's status.

According to team insider Dennis Lin, King is set to throw a simulated game on Monday at Petco Park, making his return to pitching since injuring his shoulder.

King got scratched from a game in May after he woke up and felt discomfort in his right shoulder. Out of caution, the Padres scratched him from the game, though he hasn't thrown since then.

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He traveled around America seeking opinions on his injured shoulder, but the mystery surrounding his shoulder only grew as the days went on.

Before his injury, King was pitching like an ace, posting a 2.59 ERA in 55.2 innings. He ranked in the 91st percentile for expected batting average, 85th percentile in strikeout percentage, and 83rd in expected ERA, according to Baseball Savant.

He also doesn't give up many hard-hit balls, ranking in the 80th percentile for average exit velocity.

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King has every incentive to get back on the mound and pitch well since he is a free agent after this season.

Before the injury, he was set for a massive, nine-figure long-term payday as a top-tier free agent, but shoulder injuries tend to scare some teams from investing in a pitcher.

If he comes back and pitches anywhere near his previous level, King should get that payday, from the Padres or another team.

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For more Padres news, head over to Padres on SI.

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Nelson Espinal
NELSON ESPINAL

Nelson Espinal lives and breathes sports. Avidly following of everything ranging from motorsports to Mixed Martial Arts to tennis, he is connected with most of the sports world at all times. His dream of writing about sports started at 16 years of age, writing for a Lakers fans blog, and his passions for sports writing has grown since. He has his Bachelor's degree in Political Science, and a minor in writing literature from the University of California, San Diego.

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