San Diego Padres Spring Training has officially begun, and with that comes the excitement of a new season. The Padres are looking to build on back-to-back seasons that ended with postseason appearances, although both ended in bitter disappointment as they lost games that would have sent them to the next round.
One key element of the Padres’ 2024 season that was largely missing during the 2025 season was starting pitcher Michael King. King was scheduled to hit free agency after the season, but he struggled with injuries during the second half of the 2025 season. He returned down the stretch, but did not have enough time to ramp up and make a significant contribution in the postseason.
Instead, the team relied on 39-year-old Yu Darvish in an elimination game against the Cubs, which the Padres lost. Darvish’s start did not go well as he finished the game with only one inning. King did see brief action as he pitched an inning in relief, striking out three batters while allowing only one hit.
San Diego Padres Get Good News on Michael King
Following the season, the Padres re-signed Michael King on a three-year, $75 million deal that featured opt-outs for the pitcher. Now, with spring training underway, the good news is Michael King recently had a bullpen session that seemingly went well.
Padres MLB broadcaster Bob Scanlan posted on X, “Good bullpen session for King today. Seems shaper with movement and location of pitches this year than at this same time previous two springs. May be just my perception but feels that way to me especially to glove side which can be tougher to dial in with his cross fire action.”
With uncertainty in the Padres rotation following the departure of Dylan Cease and the season-ending injury for Yu Darvish, having King at full strength will be key if San Diego hopes to return to the postseason. In his first season in San Diego, King posted a 2.95 ERA in 173.2 innings pitched. His efforts in his first season earned him his first career opening day start in the 2025 season.
San Diego Padres Rotation
If King is fully healthy, he figures to be at the top of the Padres rotation. Joe Musgrove will presumably return following the injury he suffered during the 2024 playoffs, which caused him to miss the 2025 season. Musgrove had planned to return as a member of the Padres’ bullpen if they had advanced further in the postseason.
Despite dealing with injuries throughout the 2024 season, Musgrove finished with a 3.88 ERA in 99.2 innings. The ace of the Padres rotation in the 2025 season was free agent signing Nick Pivetta, who had the best season of his career as he finished with a 2.87 ERA in 181.2 innings. Pivetta’s efforts earned him the Padres Game 1 start of the 2025 postseason.
New Padres manager Craig Stammen has not announced who the Opening Day starter for San Diego will be against Detroit. During that game, the team will face off against back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
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