Q&A: Marlins reliever King really knows how to jazz things up

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MIAMI – Marlins reliever John King is a self-described late bloomer.

Growing up, the left-handed King didn’t have the velocity but could be relied upon to consistently throw strikes. That hasn’t changed for the ground-ball machine, who signed with Miami at the beginning of Spring Training seeking a bounceback campaign.

What better way for fans to get to know the newcomers both on and off the field than through a fun Q&A? In this installment, we catch up with King about what baseball means to him and learning songs on the saxophone via YouTube tutorials.  

MLB.com: What would you be doing if not baseball?

King: Probably coaching. But I'll give you a fun answer: I used to play the saxophone, so maybe I’d have a career in that.

MLB.com: When did you start playing that?

King: I was on the IL for a while in 2021 with thoracic outlet syndrome, so I like, picked it up and just started playing a little bit.

MLB.com: How does one pick up playing the saxophone?

King: I wanted to do guitar, but it was too expensive. I found a used saxophone for like, a couple hundred bucks. I was living alone. I wasn't allowed to travel, so I just wanted to pick something up. So I just messed around with it.

MLB.com: What kind of songs were you playing?

King: Super basic ones. And then once I started playing [baseball] again the next year, I got too busy where I never stuck with it. I still have it, though.

MLB.com: Do you think you’d be able to pick it right back up?

King: In 2024, we had a talent show with St Louis. I played it there. (Note: He finished third in the competition.)

MLB.com: What song did you play?

King: It was "Hot Cross Buns." Something super easy because I had to relearn.

MLB.com: Is this something you could bring back if the boys went on a run?

King: Maybe. We’ll see.

MLB.com: What was it like having Tommy John surgery so early in your career?

King: I blew out in college, and then Texas drafted me, and I got it like the day after I got drafted pretty much.

MLB.com: How uncertain was your future?

King: It was weird. I didn't think I'd get drafted, especially the second day, and then, I don't know. I didn't really have any expectations, honestly, because it was a weird feeling. I just got drafted, and I had to sit out 14 months. It was weird, but I spent a lot of time in Surprise, Ariz. [at the Rangers’ facility there]. I gained a lot of velocity then. It was probably the best thing that happened in my career.

MLB.com: Why baseball?

King: I love it. It's fun. I've been playing it my whole life. I love that it teaches you a lot about yourself, like how to be a great teammate, how to be humble, how to deal with adversity. Life lessons that you can take away from it.