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Johnny King
- Vancouver Canadians - A+
- LHP
Collapse Explore Scouting Report
- Bats: L / Throws: L
- Age: 19
- Rule 5 Eligible: After 2028 Season
- Acquisition Method: Draft
Scouting Report
At just 19 years old, Johnny King is the epitome of a starting pitcher in stature, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2024 MLB draft in the third round, 95th overall. He kicked off his minor league career with a stellar performance in the Florida Complex League last season. He completely dominated hitters across seven games and 24 innings. His ERA was 1.13, with his FIP and xFIP equally standing out at 1.53 and 1.83, respectively. What should be highlighted above all was his propensity to strike batters out. He was one of the best strikeout pitchers in Rookie ball, ending his time there with a 41.8% strikeout rate. He was able to pair that with solid command as well, only walking 7.1% of the batters he faced.
King was quickly promoted to Single-A Dunedin and continued to show a top-notch ability to generate whiffs. Over 11 games and 37.2 innings to finish the season, he struck out 38.1% of hitters as an 18-year-old facing mostly more advanced batters. He didn't give up many hits either, only seeing his batting average against rise from .195 at Rookie ball up to .201 at Single A. His ERA and FIP took a jump up, to 3.35 and 4.24, respectively. The main issue with the promotion was that his command routinely slipped at Single A. He had a somewhat concerning 17.1% walk rate, though he was able to finish the season strong, with a 4.2-inning performance, giving up just one hit and zero earned runs, while striking out seven and walking three.
What To Like
As an 18-year-old last season, King showed a rare ability to have exceptional stuff at such a young age and to be able to command it enough to strike out hitters at Single A. He has a great frame and still projects to get stronger and add velocity on his fastball. He already possesses two plus pitches in his four-seam fastball and curveball. Both were virtually unhittable in 2025, with the fastball having a batting average against of .213 and a whiff rate of 36.3%. The pitch has very good ride up in the zone, and he generates close to 18 inches of induced vertical break on it.
The curveball had one of the best whiff rates in the minor leagues at 49.4%, and hitters could only hit .193 off of the pitch. King also gets above-average extension on the pitches, in the range of 6.5 feet. That will give him an exceptional base to pitch from to continue improving his repertoire as he gets older. His third pitch was his changeup, and while decent, it needs some work. It was a good pitch, which he used to limit the success of batters, but he didn't get as many swings and misses on it, with only a 22.2% whiff rate at Single A. It is a great pitching foundation to have two plus pitches to go with a third serviceable one, something not often seen from an 18-year-old.
What To Work On
As the season wore on, King's command took a hit, and his walk rate was simply worrisome at times. Jumping from 7.1% at Rookie ball up to 17.1% at Single A shows he needs to work on getting batters out in the zone to go with his elite ability to generate swings and misses. His 60% strike rate at Single A was in the 39th percentile in the minor leagues and will need to take a step up if he is to continue to get older hitters out while moving up levels.
Another area King will need to focus on in 2026 will be getting hitters back on the ground. When he jumped from Rookie ball to Single A, his groundball rate dropped from 59.1% to 33.8%. He will want to get batters to hit the ball on the ground more like he did at the start of his 2025 season, to help limit damage overall.
What Is Next
King will begin the 2026 season at High-A Vancouver. It could be a rocky/challenging start given the wild Northwest weather this time of year, but he has the potential to vault up prospect rankings due to his young age and plus stuff on the mound. If everything goes right for him, expect him to spend a couple of months at High A before getting a late-season crack at Double-A New Hampshire. Everything is pointing towards a huge season for him, and he could be the next great pitching prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Monthly Splits
| Split | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | SVO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | HB | BB | IBB | SO | AVG | WHIP | GO/AO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Outs | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0.75 | 1.00 |
| Two Outs | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Runners at 1st & 2nd | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 3.00 | 1.00 |
| One Out | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.1 | 3 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .429 | 3.75 | 1.00 |
| Ahead in Count | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2.1 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .125 | 0.43 | 2.00 |
| Starter | VAN | 0 | 1 | 2.25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .200 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| Batting Seventh | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.2 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Runners at 1st & 3rd | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | -.-- |
| Batting Sixth | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 3.00 | -.-- |
| Batting Ninth | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0.00 | -.-- |
| Bases Loaded | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.2 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0.00 | -.-- |
| Batting Eighth | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0.00 | -.-- |
| On Grass | VAN | 0 | 1 | 2.25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .200 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| Day Games | VAN | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .100 | 0.67 | 3.00 |
| Home Games | VAN | 0 | 1 | 2.25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .200 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| First Inning | VAN | -- | -- | 4.50 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .250 | 2.00 | 1.00 |
| Second Inning | VAN | -- | -- | 0.00 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .250 | 2.00 | 1.00 |
| Runner at 3rd | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 3.00 | -.-- |
| Behind in Count | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 9.00 | -.-- |
| Leading Off Inning | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| April | VAN | 0 | 1 | 2.25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .200 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| Runners at 2nd & 3rd | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0.00 | -.-- |
| Scoring Position | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.2 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .167 | 1.20 | 1.00 |
| Third Inning | VAN | -- | -- | 0.00 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| vs Right | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2.1 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .125 | 0.43 | 1.00 |
| Runner at 1st | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | -.-- | -.-- |
| Bases Empty | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2.1 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .125 | 0.86 | 2.00 |
| Night Games | VAN | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .400 | 4.00 | -.-- |
| vs Left | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.2 | 2 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .286 | 3.00 | 2.00 |
| Batting Third | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 3.00 | -.-- |
| Batting Second | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Batting Fifth | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | -.-- | -.-- |
| Batting Fourth | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | 1 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 3.00 | 0.00 |
| Batting First | VAN | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.2 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.50 | 1.00 |
| First Half | VAN | 0 | 1 | 2.25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .200 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| Season | Team | LG | Level | W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | HLD | SV | SVO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | NP | HB | BB | IBB | SO | AVG | WHIP | GO/AO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 teams | - | Minors | 1 | 3 | 2.48 | 18 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 61.2 | 44 | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1081 | 8 | 37 | 0 | 105 | .200 | 1.31 | 1.25 |
| 2025 | F-BLU | FCL | ROK | 0 | 0 | 1.13 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24.0 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 388 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 41 | .195 | 1.00 | 2.63 |
| 2025 | DUN | FSL | A | 1 | 3 | 3.35 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37.2 | 27 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 693 | 4 | 30 | 0 | 64 | .203 | 1.51 | 0.79 |
| 2026 | VAN | NWL | A+ | 0 | 1 | 2.25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .200 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| Date | Team | OPP | W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | SVO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | HB | BB | IBB | SO | AVG | WHIP | GO/AO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | VAN | vs EUG | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .400 | 4.00 | -.-- |
| 2026-04-12 | VAN | vs EUG | 0 | 0 | 2.25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .200 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
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