Johnny
King

King showcased the most unique pitching profile at the event. Lean and wiry at 6-foot-4, 190-pounds with significant room to continue filling out, the athletic southpaw moved exceptionally well down the mound allowing his whippy arm to work quickly out front. Down a bit (like most of the arms) velocity wise than in previous looks from PBR, he sat 89-91 (2300) in an initial 2-inning stint that saw him strikeout two and walk three without yielding a hit. Stacking before driving firmly down the mound, the fastball garnered whiffs from two noticeably different slots, and it is easy to envision a considerable jump coming in the near future. The slot changes varied depending on pitch, and likely disrupted the usual command that he enjoys, but also provided the look of an uber-athletic pitcher with the potential to make quick adjustments and advancements. Regardless of the slot, the arm speed stood out, and his ability to collect whiffs in the zone in hitter’s counts is likely to garner significant interest along with a ceiling that appears to be one of the highest in the class. The curveball (77-78, 2500+) was also less consistent, but showcased tighter spin with the makings of a swing-and-miss offering. There was intent to the way that he ripped it off, and it was obvious that he holds plenty of confidence in the pitch with aptitude to manipulate its shape. Regardless of the results, King possesses electric upside, and combined with the fact that he will only be 17 on draft day, look for his rise to continue over the next year as one of the premier arms in the class.