Michael King vies to cement role as Yankees’ fifth starter

Pitcher Michael King is well aware that the Yankees’ 2023 season is over and, like many others, his focus is on the 2024 season. He is open about his ambition to claim the fifth starter position for the Yankees next year.

Michael King said on Monday at Comerica Park :

“If it gets to the point where we’re in spring training and we need a fifth starter, they know what they have in me, and they know, ‘Hey, King was great for the last five weeks of the season. We can give him an opportunity.’ Or, ‘We got five starters, and King was great in the bullpen, so we’re going to put him in the bullpen.’

Michael King sees a chance to make it to the Yankees’ rotation

His transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation this season was largely motivated by the necessity caused by injuries. In a season that has been largely disappointing for the Yankees, the team can utilize the remaining weeks of the campaign to gain a clearer understanding of whether Michael King could potentially serve as a starting pitcher next year, contingent upon the developments during the offseason.

As Michael King prepares for his third start this month against the Tigers on Tuesday, the right-hander aims to present the Yankees with a compelling case and create a dilemma for them in deciding his role moving forward.

Michael King discussed his perspective on the situation and ambition, which revealed a clear focus on the concept of roster flexibility. He views his current role as an opportunity to showcase his abilities and versatility. The Yankees pitcher noted that his performance during the final five weeks of the season could potentially influence decisions when it comes to roster considerations in spring training. Michael King emphasized his willingness to excel, whether it’s as a starter if the need arises, or even as a valuable asset in the bullpen.

While he aspires for personal success, Michael King also has the desire to contribute positively to the team’s flexibility and options. He hoped that his performance during this time period would leave an impression in the minds of the Yankees’ decision-makers. Ultimately, Michael King’s goal is to position himself as a strong contender for a starting role in the upcoming season, ideally leaving a lasting impression that propels his candidacy for that position.

The Yankees are not yet confirming that Michael King will be starting every five days for the remainder of the season, but he understands that his success would make the decision easier. For his upcoming start on Tuesday, the pitcher will be on a typical four-day rest period, which is customary for starters, and he aims to throw around 55-60 pitches.

Michael King is pressing for the rotation berth

Following his 50-pitch outing against the Nationals on Thursday, Michael King approached manager Aaron Boone to discuss transitioning to a five-day routine. He had been hoping to avoid bullpen duty in the days leading up to his start, which he realized wasn’t a productive mindset in case he was needed for relief work.

Boone indicated that Michael King could likely follow a five-day routine. With Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt both delivering extended starts on Friday and Saturday, Boone gave Michael King the go-ahead, allowing him to have a dedicated between-starts bullpen session and the opportunity to comprehensively prepare for an upcoming opponent’s lineup for the first time.

Pitching coach Matt Blake commented on Michael King’s transition to the new role, observing that he was adapting effectively thus far. Blake acknowledged the pitcher’s desire to continue functioning as a starter. He indicated that the prospect of returning to a starting role remains a possibility as they move forward. Blake emphasized that their evaluation would be based on each performance, and decisions would be made accordingly after assessing their outings.

After progressing from the minors as a starter and later transitioning into a valuable bullpen asset in the majors, Michael King is now on track to potentially reach the 80-85 pitch range by the conclusion of this season if he maintains his role as a starter.

Looking ahead, he intends to approach the offseason as if he’s preparing to start in the following season. This approach would allow Michael King to gradually reduce his workload during spring training, a more manageable strategy compared to increasing it.

As it stands, the Yankees have a projected 2024 rotation featuring established names like Cole, Carlos Rodon, Schmidt, and Nestor Cortes. The future of Domingo German remains uncertain, as he is currently on the restricted list for alcohol abuse treatment throughout the remainder of this season.

While the Yankees might have younger in-house pitching options such as Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito, Michael King aspires to insert himself into the discussion as well.

Blake expressed his hope that in the coming year, they would have the opportunity to provide him with versatility and evaluate his performance in that position.

During this period, the Yankees have the chance to assess Michael King’s pitching abilities over longer stretches in the remaining part of the season. This includes evaluating his expanded repertoire, which now incorporates increased velocity and a new sweeping pitch, compared to his previous tenure as a full-time starter.

Blake mentioned the objective of monitoring Michael King’s performance and assessing how it translates to the starter role. He expressed the need to ensure that the attributes and effectiveness they displayed as a reliever are not compromised when transitioning to starting. However, he acknowledged that if Michael King can maintain certain positive aspects of their performance, the starter role could indeed be a viable and beneficial option.

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