Padres' Michael King makes emphatic declaration about return from injury
The San Diego Padres may be in the thick of the NL West playoff race, but reinforcements are coming — and one of them just spoke with authority. Michael King, who's been sidelined since May 18th with a nerve impingement in his right shoulder, made it clear this week, he's not waiting around for the calendar to dictate his return.
In a piece by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, King gave an emphatic update after his first full bullpen session in nearly two months. He threw 25 pitches Thursday afternoon, wearing his full uniform and hitting 91 mph on the radar gun.
'I'll be back well before that,' he said confidently. 'That would be late.'
King didn't commit to a public timeline, but his words and actions made one thing clear — he's pushing aggressively to rejoin the Padres rotation sooner than expected. The bullpen session was originally scheduled as a 'touch and feel,' but King turned it up.
'This one was supposed to be a touch and feel,' the starting pitcher also told Acee, adding. 'But I definitely made it more of a bullpen, just to speed things up. Because I'd like to progress.'
That urgency reflects what the 30-year-old reliever turned starter called an 'aggressive buildup,' even revealing he created his own rehab program before the medical staff. That plan includes bullpen sessions, potential minor-league rehab starts, and a push to return long before the team's bobblehead night honoring him on August 20th.
Before his injury, King had been one of the most consistent arms in the Padres rotation, posting a 4–2 record with a 2.59 ERA and 64 strikeouts across 55.2 innings. He was especially dominant in April, going 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 43 strikeouts over six appearances, a stretch that helped anchor a Padres staff still searching for stability. Since his absence, San Diego has shuffled starters to stay afloat, but King's return could solidify the rotation just in time for a late-season push.
Currently at 49-43 and just one game back of the San Francisco Giants for second in the division, the club is firmly in the NL West playoff race. With upcoming matchups against both San Francisco and Los Angeles, King's presence down the stretch could be the edge they need.
While juggling rehab and the impending arrival of his first child any day now, King continues to show he's fully dialed in — physically, mentally, and emotionally. His bold words aren't just about making a return; they're a rallying cry to the clubhouse that this season still has plenty left to fight for.
Related: MLB rumors: Jarren Duran, Padres hold 'strongest' trade deadline link
Related: Cardinals' Nolan Arenado gets honest about Manny Machado rivalry
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Fox Sports
8 hours ago
- Fox Sports
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They needed another left-hander with A.J. Minter and Danny Young out for the year, found their answer in Gregory Soto and then kept going, adding two-time All-Star Ryan Helsley and submariner Tyler Rogers, who has been a weapon against righties (.505 OPS) and lefties (.542) alike. The Yankees, meanwhile, had a 6.03 bullpen ERA in July and underwent their own overhaul. David Bednar and Camilo Doval are former All-Stars enjoying bounceback campaigns, and the Yankees may be able to get the most out of Jake Bird simply by getting him out of Colorado. There's more volatility associated with their moves, which showed in Friday's wild 13-12 loss to the Marlins in which all three pitchers struggled. Bednar was optioned at the start of the year before getting back on track, Doval had an ERA close to 5.00 last season and can be prone to free passes, and Bird's ERA jumped from 2.68 at the start of July to 4.73 by the end of the month — but the Yankees brass managed to turn a weakness into a strength. It's also worth noting that all three relievers the Yankees added will be with the club beyond this year. Thosar: I have to go with the Yankees (despite Friday's loss), though the Mets are not far behind. The former came out with the most improved bullpen because that unit was reeling before Thursday's additions, whereas the latter at least boasted the best closer in the majors in Edwin Diaz. In terms of ERA, the Mets' bullpen is ranked 11th, and the Yankees' is 20th. The Yankees have struggled without injured relievers Mark Leiter Jr. and Fernando Cruz. Plus, there was the whole Devin Williams situation to be concerned about because, even though he strung together a large stretch of solid relief appearances in June, there is still a feeling of uneasiness when he takes the mound in high-leverage situations. He's prone to melting down when things go south in the Bronx, and I'm expecting the Yankees to let him walk away when he hits free agency this winter. That's in part why the additions of Bednar, Doval, and Bird were key for the Yankees. All three relievers have team control beyond this season, and even though Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that wasn't a conscious goal of his when he landed those high-leverage arms, it certainly helps the club both now and in the future. 4. What are the division races you're looking forward to the most? Kavner: Both of the West races are suddenly a lot more compelling, but it's the AL East. Did the Blue Jays do enough on the pitching side to hold off the Yankees and Red Sox? Can the Yankees' litany of moves — adding Ryan McMahon, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Amed Rosario, Jose Caballero, Jake Bird and Austin Slater — get them back on track, even with Aaron Judge ailing? What will Judge look like upon his return? Will Boston's disappointing deadline ultimately be its undoing, or can the Red Sox keep their momentum going into August? There are a lot of questions waiting to be answered. Thosar: It's both of the East divisions for me. The Mets entered Friday with a teeny tiny half-game lead over the Phillies for first place in the NL East, and I'm expecting these division rivals to duke it out down the stretch. It's a compelling storyline to watch the new and improved Mets potentially win their first division title in 10 years in Juan Soto's first season in Queens. Sure, many expected something like that to happen, but it's another thing to go out and do it. On the other side of town, even though the Blue Jays have held onto first place in the AL East since the beginning of July, it would be shocking if the Yankees don't at least threaten to win the division after all the roster upgrades they made at the trade deadline. Can Toronto really stay in first all the way through the end of the regular season? And are the Red Sox just a hot stretch away from inserting themselves into that conversation? Right now, the East is a beast. 5. A's, D-Backs, Twins: Which of the trade deadline sellers have the best reason to believe they're set for the future? Kavner: The Athletics had the best trade deadline of any seller, getting one of the top prospects in baseball in exchange for a reliever. Sure, Mason Miller has one of the most electric arms in the sport, and 18-year-old switch-hitting phenom shortstop Leo De Vries has a ways to go before we can definitively say what he will become, but that's the kind of move we just don't see at the deadline. 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Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner . Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar . recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Fox News
2025 MLB Trade Deadline: 10 Impact Moves That Affect The Stretch Run
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According to Statcast, Miller has thrown the second-most pitches at or above 100 mph (Jhoan Duran is first) in the major leagues. Pairing him with Suarez, who leads the majors with 30 saves, and the rest of the Padres' terrifying relief corps, will be a nightmare for hitters. Now add that bullpen to the rest of their improved roster and San Diego looks primed for a deep playoff run. 2. Closer Jhoan Durán: Minnesota Twins to Philadelphia Phillies The best available reliever went to the team that most desperately needed a closer. We love to see it. The Phillies, for years, have needed a trade-deadline acquisition like Duran, so kudos to Dave Domebrowski for finally pulling it off in a year that the Phillies are facing a ton of pressure to win. Duran has a 2.01 ERA this season, and he's converted 74 saves in 83 chances spanning across the past four seasons. And, as a bonus, he's only 27 years old and is under team control through the 2027 season. The flamethrower was undoubtedly the Phillies' missing piece. 1. 3B Eugenio Suárez: Arizona Diamondbacks to Seattle Mariners Man, am I excited to see what Suarez and Cal Raleigh can do together. Suarez joins Seattle with 36 home runs, while Raleigh already has 42 (the most in MLB). So there's no doubt that the Mariners slugging catcher will eclipse 50 homers, and Suarez looks primed to get there, too. They have the chance to become the first duo of hitters to each record 50 homers in a single season since 1961 (Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris for the Yankees). On top of that, the Mariners were such big winners at the deadline that they could win the AL West for the first time since 2001. Buckle up for an electric stretch run. Honorable mentions: Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
Padres biggest MLB trade deadline winner after Mason Miller, Ryan O'Hearn additions: Oddsmakers
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The Padres were the biggest winner of the MLB trade deadline in the eyes of oddsmakers. San Diego went from +3500 to +1700 to win the 2025 World Series at BetMGM Sportsbook. The jump was easily the biggest of any team in the league and the Padres now have the eighth-best odds in baseball to win it all. BetMGM trading manager Hal Egeland said the Padres were one of a few teams that saw 'substantial improvement in their odds.' 'The Padres, per usual, went all out at the deadline bolstering their already talented bullpen,' Egeland said in a press release. 'The NL West race could get interesting with the Padres just 3 games back already.' San Diego is being given an outside shot at winning the NL West (+750) over the powerhouse Dodgers and the senior circuit (+1000). Oddmakers are all but assuming they'll at least nab an NL Wild Card spot, pegging them at -700 to make the playoffs. Athletics pitcher Mason Miller stands on the field before a game against the Astros at Daikin Park. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Padres general manager A.J. Preller was the busiest front office executive in baseball near the deadline, making several deals to improve their big league roster. Preller brought flame-throwing closer Mason Miller along with starter J.P. Sears to San Diego in a deal with the A's, trading away No. 3 overall prospect Leo De Vries and three other top-20 prospects in the Padres' system. Shortly after the Miller deal, the Padres acquired Ryan O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano from the Orioles, strengthening their lineup for the stretch run. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting The franchise also held onto starter Dylan Cease and star reliever Robert Suarez despite rumors that they could be on the move. 'The expectation with this group is always to go win a ring, go win a championship,' Preller said Thursday. 'That's the goal.'
