Yankees best pitching prospect Clarke Schmidt could get more headlines, and for good reason. But don’t sleep with young Mike King.
King impressed manager Aaron Boone in his four-inning start in the Yankees’ 9-3 win over the Mets at Citi Field in their first exhibition game on Saturday night.
“Very, very well,” Boone said of King.
King, a 25-year-old right-hander, surrendered with only three hits and struck out three. He walked one. He threw 59 pitches, 40 of them for strikes.
He’s in the mix for the Yankees’ fifth rotation spot and, if he doesn’t make it, at least one job on the opening day roster. The Yankees aren’t sure when Masahiro Tanaka (concussion) will be ready to pitch in the regular season games.
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“It was really good for him to go out and set a really good tone for us,” Boone said. “He was on the attack, using all of his throws, and he was really in control of the game. I wanted to take you through four entrances. I had some problems there, but I ended up very strong. Really satisfied with where he is now. “
King hit 96 mph in the first inning, clearly squeezed in his first start at a major league stadium.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pound appearance made a relief appearance in two innings in September for the Yankees.
MLB Pipeline ranks King as the Yankees’ 25th overall prospect. Baseball America is a little bit more bullish on him, putting him at number 13.
“It’s just one more step from the competition,” said Boone. “You go against another team in a different stadium. Obviously they are our only three exhibition games. There seems to be something more at stake than a normal spring training game and obviously the sense of urgency that we have to take advantage of these games before the regular season. It’s nice to see a step forward in the competition and keep bringing out the best in (King). ”
Boone said he is still deciding on the role of King.
“I have a general idea, but we will continue to meet in the coming days about the different moving parts, obviously,” he said.
Brendan Kuty can be contacted at [email protected].
