John King #47

Graduated from Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, where he was a three-year letterwinner in baseball...Played college baseball at Angelia College in Lufkin, Texas (2014-15)...Transferred to the University of Houston, where he was teammates of current Major Leaguers Corey Julks, Jared Triolo and Connor Wong. Went 14-5 over two seasons with the Cougars (2016-17)...Tore the UCL in his left elbow during his senior season at Houston, but continued to pitch through the injury. After being selected by Texas in the 10th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, underwent left elbow surgery two weeks later in July 2017...Signing scout was Randy Taylor (Rangers)...He and his wife, Jillian, reside in Grand Prairie, Texas.

2024

NL Reliever Ranks: Groundball percentage (60.6%, 3rd), first pitch strike percentage (70.6, 2nd)...Set single-season career-bests in games (56), innings pitched (60.0), ERA (2.85), BABIP (.280) and games finished (10)...Ranked 3rd on the Cardinals in Baseball Reference's ERA+ (148) behind Ryan Helsley (206) and Andrew Kittredge (150)...Finished in the 98th percentile in MLB in groundball percentage, according to Baseball Savant...Logged a 70.6% first-strike percentage, sixth-highest among MLB relievers and the seventh-highest in Cardinals single-season history (minimum 40 appearances)...His first strikeout of the season was the 100th of his Major League career, fanning James Outman (swinging) on March 31 at Los Angeles Dodgers...Induced eight groundball double plays, most among Cardinals relievers. Seven came against right-handed batters...Recorded 4+ outs in 17 games, eighth-most among NL lefthanded relievers...Logged a 2.53 ERA (32.0 IP) in 29 games at Busch Stadium, and yielded all five home runs on the road (accounting for 11 runs)...Stranded 16 of 33 (51.5%) inherited runners...Retired the first batter faced in 36 of 56 outings (64.3%)...38 of his 56 games pitched were scoreless outings...Enjoyed a career-high three-game winning streak from May 22-July 4...Pitched on back-to-back days 14 times (3.29 ERA)...Appeared in 13 games in June, his career-high for a single month, following 12 appearances in May.

2023

Acquired by the Cardinals from the Rangers on July 30, 2023 as part of a five-player trade that sent LHP Jordan Montgomery and RHP Chris Stratton to Texas...Began the season in Round Rock (AAA) and pitched nine games before a recall to Texas on May 11...Posted a career-high 12 holds during the season with 10 after being acquired by the Cardinals...Ranked second among National League pitchers (Colin Holderman, 11, PIT) with 10 Holds following his acquisition by the Cardinals on July 30...Ranked third on the Cardinals with 20 appearances after the trade, posting a 1.45 ERA, second on the team only to Ryan Helsley (0.77) from Aug. 1 to the end of the season...His 1.45 ERA ranked fifth in all of MLB of pitchers with 20 or more appearances during that time period...Did not allow an extra-base hit to a left-handed batter after Aug. 7...Stranded six of seven inherited runners with the Cardinals after stranding 10 of 16 with the Rangers. 

2022

Returned to the team on 3/24, a week into Spring Training, after undergoing season-ending surgery the year prior… shouldered his highest workload to date, going 1-4 with a 4.03 ERA (23 ER/51.1 IP) across a career-high 39 appearances with Texas…his 51.1 innings ranked fourth on the team, while also striking out 30 batters…registered eight holds serving exclusively as a late-inning reliever…had five save opportunities, but was unable to convert any…held opponents scoreless in 14 of first 18 outings to begin season (2.00 ERA)…surrendered a career-high five runs and six hits against Chicago-AL on 6/10…over next 11 games posted a 7.55 ERA (11 ER/13.1 IP) before being optioned down to Round Rock on 7/6…appeared in 14 games for the Express, giving up multiple runs in four of those outings… re-called to Texas on 9/4 when rosters expanded and tossed 3+ innings in three of his final eight games to finish the season…had more success against left-handed hitters (.244) than right-handed batters (.316).

2020

Was added to Alternate Training Site on 7/24 and spent most of the campaign there…did not pitch in Summer Camp and has yet to appear in a Spring Training ‘A’ game in his career…had contract selected from Alt. Site on 9/3 and went 1-0 with a 6.10 ERA (7 ER/10.1 IP) over six relief appearances in his first MLB action…had a 1.645 WHIP and opposition hit .289/.373/.467/.839…had not pitched above High-A level before promotion, one of five such players to make their ML debut for the club in 2020.

2019

Combined to go 3-6 with a 3.05 ERA (26 ER/97.1 IP) over 19 starts with Hickory and Down East in 1st full pro season…ERA was the 2nd-lowest among Texas minor league pitchers (min. 90.0 IP) to Sal Mendez (2.37)…logged 97.1 IP after just 4.2 IP in 2018 following elbow surgery...opened the season at Hickory and went 1-2 with a 3.42 ERA (10 ER/26.1 IP) over five starts…promoted to Down East on 5/12 and went 2-0 with a 1.07 ERA (5 ER/42.0 IP) and 5 BB/40 SO over his 1st eight G with the Woodies…named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for 6/10-16 following CGSHO on 6/12 at POT…permitted season-high 5 ER on 7/2 vs. W-S and then went 0-3 with a 2.35 ERA (6 ER/23.0 IP) over final five starts…was on injured list from 8/9 through the end of the season.

2018

Returned from injury to make one start for both AZL Rangers and Spokane in first action of pro career…joined AZL Rangers for rehab start on 8/24 before being activated by Spokane on 8/25.

2017

Did not appear in a game while recovering from left elbow surgery on 7/5.