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This under-the-radar Blue Jays prospect is already ready for the next level

Johnny King has been mowing down the competition at the Florida Complex League
ByBaron Dionis|
Toronto Blue Jays v Baltimore Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays v Baltimore Orioles | G Fiume/GettyImages

The Blue Jays' 2024 draft class has been excellent thus far. Trey Yesavage is flying through the organization and could very well debut this season. Khal Stephen has also been great, progressing just as well as Yesavage, just not in Double-A just yet. One name that has not been talked about enough has been Johnny King, the 18 year old southpaw taken in the third round after these two arms.

King has pitched in the Florida Complex League for all of 2025 so far and he should be in Dunedin by now. The southpaw has dominated in the six games he has thrown in. Through 19.1 innings, King has generated a 1.40 ERA with a 1.54 FIP and a 15.83 K/9. He adds a very low walk rate of 6.4% and an opposing batting average of .200 to form a 0.98 WHIP.

Blue Jays must promote Johnny King to Single-A as he is killing it in the FCL.

No one is touching him in this affiliate and he's really making a case for himself to get to Dunedin. It makes sense on why Toronto may want to take things slow with him, but they need to find a way to get him up to the next level. In an article about one prospect from every organization pushing for a promotion, King was who MLB.com picked for the Blue Jays and what they said about him is really convincing.

"After a tough year for arms in 2024, the Blue Jays have seen many more (importantly healthy) successes in that department this season, and last year’s third-rounder King certainly counts as one. The 18-year-old southpaw has opened with a 1.40 ERA, 34 strikeouts and five walks over 19 1/3 innings in the Florida Complex League, thanks to his 93-95 mph fastball and plus curveball. His 43.6 percent K rate is a strong indication he’s ready for Single-A ball."

As a third round pick, King is looking like a true steal of a selection for Toronto. With Yesavage, Stephen, and King leading the pitching prospects, this farm system looks so much deeper. This also makes more guys expandable at the Trade Deadline and that will be very valubale towards pushing the Blue Jays to the postseason.

Nonetheless, getting King closer by promoting him is the right way to go and could help move the needle for other transactions.