Michael King (shoulder) throws about 40 pitches in 2-plus simulated innings on Monday at Petco Park
Padres pitcher Michael King looks on during the 10-8 loss to the Marlins, May 28, 2025 in San Diego. Before even climbing the mound Monday afternoon at Petco Park, Michael King had been asking if the next step would be another simulated game in a controlled setting or a minor-league rehab assignment.
King threw roughly 40 pitches over two-plus innings in a simulated game that saw catching prospect Lamar King Jr. rotate into the box with Tyler Wade and Trenton Brooks. The only hits that King allowed were a home run that snuck over the wall in right field — a ball that likely dies at the warning track at 7 p.m., Brooks joked with King after the first “inning” — and a single up the middle from Brooks to end the outing. His velocity was up a bit from last week’s up-and-down — 91-94 mph, he said. Most importantly, King said he felt good after his first significant step since sleeping on his shoulder wrong in late May led to his long thoracic nerve firing incorrectly. “ probably better than I would have thought,” King said. “The adrenaline of pitching at Petco is a little bit more than Arizona backfields, so I was happy with the command of everything. Shapes were good. But, yeah, I felt like all pitches were commanded pretty well.” Added Padres manager Mike Shildt: “Ball was coming out good and the changeup was good and the secondary was there. As you would expect after a multiple-month hiatus from the mound, there’s still a little bit of rust there. But as far as the ball coming out and the movements, it also looked like he felt good, and that’s the most important thing. It looked free. It looked easy. It didn’t look apprehensive. So we saw a convicted athlete out there. And so it was very encouraging day for Michael King and the Padres.” The setting had all the makings of a “game,” from a pinstriped King warming up in the bullpen beforehand to a collection of Lake Elsinore Storm players playing defense behind him and even running the bases to create game situations.“It just becomes more game-like,” King said. “I still try to have fun out there and I’m apologizing to Tyler Wade when I almost hit him. It’s like those kinds of things I wouldn’t do in an actual game, but seeing a ball get hit into the outfield and knowing I got a defense there, trying to pick somebody off, trying to make sure he doesn’t steal. There’s so many different things that go into a game that you’re not typically used to when you’re first building up.As far as the next step, King could only commit to building his pitch count. The nature of the injury — a misfiring a nerve instead of something structural or embedded in soft tissue — makes it easier to make that a singular focus as opposed to nurturing something back to full strength. “I’m always the type that wants to build as much as I possibly can,” King said. “I was happy I was able to go three ups. … I would love to build as much as I possibly can as quick as I possibly can. So that’s going to be some conversations I have in the next couple days.”joined the clubhouse on Monday afternoon, but Shildt declined to confirm that he would start Tuesday, effectively pushing back bothShildt did, however, elaborate on the decision to insert a starting pitcher ahead of Darvish, who has a 9.18 ERA in four starts since returning from an elbow injury. The Padres had played 10 straight games in hot, muggy conditions, so inserting a starting pitcher — presumably Bergert — is about giving everyone an extra day rather than anything in particular hindering Darvish. To that point, Darvish dressed in full uniform and threw about 26 pitches in the bullpen after King’s simulated game, putting him on schedule to start Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets. “It’s not Darvish in a silo,” Shildt said. “It’s bigger picture. He’s recovering well and feels good and looking forward to taking the ball soon.” Shildt added: “ part of the season, coming off the trip, no days off — all of that is a factor. So around the All-Star break, always intentional about using the both sides of it to be smart and create breaks so we can have guys fresh for the final stretch.”As San Diego’s trash deadline nears, thousands of people who lost city service are left out in the cold As San Diego’s trash deadline nears, thousands of people who lost city service are left out in the cold For years, Amazon has been overcharging for sales tax in areas throughout San Diego County. Here’s where.UC San Diego loses a third star scientist in mini brain drain2 San Diego dining spots make it onto list of top hotel restaurants in the U.S. After 101 Ash St. mess, auditors gave San Diego a blueprint to avoid real estate debacles. They wish the city would use it. After 101 Ash St. mess, auditors gave San Diego a blueprint to avoid real estate debacles. They wish the city would use it.Dozens face layoffs as San Diego LGBT Community Center braces for funding cuts
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