Johnny King

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #9 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A highly touted recruit out of Naples, Fla., King was one of the youngest high school players eligible for the 2024 draft at 17 years old on draft day. King was viewed as a projection pick and likely a difficult sign away from a Miami commitment. The Blue Jays selected King in the third round with the 95th overall pick and signed him for a bonus just under $1.25 million. King did not debut after the draft and is likely to make his debut in the Florida Complex League in 2025.
  
  Scouting Report: King is a tall lefthander with remaining projection. He began to fill in his larger frame during the spring and looked more filled out pre-draft. He throws from a slingy low three-quarters arm slot that gives his pitches, particularly his fastball, a difficult angle. King’s pitch mix consists of a four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and a changeup. King’s fastball sits in the low 90s with some ride and late run, and is a projectable pitch that should add a few ticks in the coming years. His curveball was his primary breaking ball in high school, sitting 76-78 mph with two-plane break. King has also shown a low-80s slider with sweep that has spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range. King has a changeup but it’s a very raw pitch that the team could rework into more of a splitter. King shows fringe-average command of his pitch mix, which will need to improve if he’s going to project as a starter.
  
  The Future: King is a projectable lefthander who could blossom into a back-of-the-rotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 30 | Control: 45.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #120 prospect in 2024 draft
  School: Naples (Fla.) HS Commit/Drafted: Miami
  Age At Draft: 18
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  Tools: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 45.
  
  One of the youngest players in the 2024 class, King will be 17 on draft day and has plenty of projection to dream on with a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame that has already started going in the right direction and a solid foundation of athleticism. He has a high-waisted frame and throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot with a delivery that features a bit of effort and recoil in his finish. He throws a fastball around 90-91 mph that has been up to 94 and has trended up over the last few years, with a snappy curveball in the mid 70s and a low-80s slider—bothhave spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range and above-average potential. King’s curveball has impressive two-plane break and great finish that should make it an effective secondary against both lefties and righties, while his slider has more of a sweeping shape that should be especially tough on lefthanded hitters from his arm slot. King is committed to Miami and is expected to be a difficult sign. Some teams might try and buy into his feel for spin, up-arrow projection and youth, while others might want to see him prove his ability to start in the ACC.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #40 prospect in 2024

• 2024 High School Top 100 Draft Prospects
  School: Naples (Fla.) HS Committed: Miami
  Age At Draft: 18.0
  King will be 17 on draft day and is one of the youngest players in the 2024 class, with more projection remaining on a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame that has already added strength in recent months. He throws a fastball in the low 90s that has touched 94 and also mixes in a snappy curveball in the mid 70s and a low-80s slider with spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range that both look like solid breaking balls. King is committed to Miami.