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Blue Jays prospect Johnny King strikes out eight in his best start of the season
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Photo credit: © Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
May 14, 2026, 19:30 EDTUpdated: May 14, 2026, 20:54 EDT
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Johnny King continues to dominate High-A.
On Wednesday evening, the 19-year-old left-handed pitcher made his seventh start at the level, which was arguably his best start of his career. The Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching prospect pitched a season-high five innings, giving up two doubles and a single, as well as a walk. However, the Blue Jays’ third-rounder in 2024 struck out eight, tied for the second-most strikeouts in a game in his young career.
Over his 22.1 innings pitched this season, King has allowed just two earned runs. One of which came in his High-A debut, where he pitched just an inning. The other came in his May 7th start, where he walked four, struck out three, and allowed an earned run in three innings of work. So far this season, King has a 0.81 ERA and 2.75 FIP.
His walk rate of 15.2% is still a concern, as he has a tendency to lose the zone. But the stuff is just so darn good that you can simply ignore the walk rate. Over those 22.1 innings, King has a 35.9 K%, the eighth-highest K% for any pitcher with more than 20 innings pitched at the High-A level. What’s more impressive is that King is one of just five 19 year old pitchers in High-A this season.
If the rotation remains the same, King’s next start will be next Tuesday.

Other notes from the Blue Jays system…

Despite King’s impressive performance on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canadians were held scoreless with just two hits. Alexis Hernandez and Maddox Latta each hit a single, while Holden Wilkerson gave up three earned runs over four innings of work. The C’s record now sits at 14-21.
The other game in the lower minors saw the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays drop an 8-5 decision to the Tampa Tarpons. Blue Jays’ third-round pick in 2025, Jake Cook, made his Florida State League debut, hitting an opposite field double that drove in two runs.
Juan Sanchez hit his second FSL home run, a three-run home run to get the D-Jays on the board. Blaine Bullard and JoJo Parker each hit a double, while Adam Hackenberg hit three singles.
There’s some bad news on the pitching front, as Brandon Barriera left Wednesday’s game with an apparent injury. Over his two and two-thirds innings, he gave up one unearned run, a walk, and struck out three. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats were set to play a doubleheader, but the second game was postponed due to rain. In the game that they did play, they defeated the Reading Fightin Phils by a score of 3-2. Victor Arias was the star of the game, hitting his second home run of the season, as well as a triple in what was a three-hit game. Jay Harry hit a double and triple as well.
On the mound, Richard Gallardo hurled six innings of two-run ball, allowing one free pass and striking out four to bring his season ERA to 2.38. Yondrei Rojas picked up his first save of the season, throwing a clean inning with a strikeout.
Lastly, the Buffalo Bisons fell 6-2 to the Worcester Woo Sox, dropping their record to 20-21. All seven of their hits were singles, with Rafael Lantigua having the lone multi-hit game for the Bisons. Jonatan Clase drove in both runs with a single.
Grant Rogers started the game, giving up four runs, two earned, in five innings of work. Brendon Little threw another scoreless outing, while Michael Plassmeyer struck out three in two innings of work to bring his season ERA to 1.53.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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