The San Diego Padres have placed right-hander Michael King on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 22, citing inflammation in his throwing shoulder. To fill King’s spot on the active roster, the Padres promoted right-handed pitcher David Morgan from Triple-A El Paso. Additionally, left-hander Omar Cruz was called up from the minors, while right-hander Alek Jacob was optioned to Triple-A.
King had been scheduled to start the game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday but was removed from the lineup after arriving at the stadium with shoulder soreness. Manager Mike Shildt explained the situation, noting that King
“
just felt like he slept on it wrong,
”
according to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee and other media members. Despite testing and attempts at weighted-ball throwing during pregame activities, the discomfort lingered, leading to the decision to hold King out.
Precautionary Approach to King’s Shoulder Issue
After further evaluation the following day, the Padres decided to place King on the 15-day injured list, exercising caution to avoid exacerbating the injury. Shildt assured that the team considers King’s condition manageable. He said,
“
we do believe it’s not anything overly serious,
”
and added that King might have been able to pitch on Saturday, but the Padres chose to prevent any possible long-term damage.
King’s Performance and Value to the Padres
Michael King was a key component of the trade package the New York Yankees sent to the Padres for star outfielder Juan Soto. King has exceeded expectations since joining San Diego, transitioning successfully from a dominant reliever to a reliable starter. After being incorporated into New York’s rotation near the end of the 2023 season, King continued his strong pitching in 2024 with a 2.95 ERA across 173 2/3 innings. His excellence helped him secure seventh place in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
King’s 2025 season has maintained this high level of performance. Over 10 starts and 55 2/3 innings, he holds a 2.59 ERA, with a 28.4% strikeout rate and a 7.6% walk rate. Though his whiff rate has slightly declined, he is allowing more hard contact compared to last season. Nevertheless, King remains a frontline pitcher and, alongside Nick Pivetta, forms a strong one-two starting rotation for the Padres.
Impact of King’s Absence on Padres’ Rotation
The loss of King on the injured list is a significant blow for the Padres, who are already missing veteran starter Yu Darvish due to injury. Darvish pitched four innings in a rehab start at Triple-A on May 14 but has not thrown in a game since, leaving his 2025 debut date uncertain. Manager Shildt explained that Darvish’s rehabilitation is progressing based on feel rather than a fixed throwing schedule, relying on Darvish’s experience to guide his recovery.
With both King and Darvish sidelined, the Padres’ starting rotation now includes Nick Pivetta, Dylan Cease, Randy Vasquez, and Stephen Kolek. Kyle Hart is the only other pitcher who started games for the Padres this season; however, after posting a 6.00 ERA in five starts over 21 innings, Hart was sent back to Triple-A in April. Hart is the top candidate to fill King’s rotation slot, as Matt Waldron remains on rehab for an oblique strain.
Roster Moves Bring Fresh Arms Amid Heavy Game Schedule
Following a bullpen game that involved Alek Jacob and three other pitchers, Jacob was optioned to Triple-A to allow for more fresh arms. Omar Cruz, called up from Triple-A, is a versatile pitcher who has started four of his eight appearances at the minor league level this season. Cruz made his major league debut in 2025 with two relief outings spanning 3 2/3 innings. The Padres may also consider Cruz for limited rotation help during an upcoming stretch of 26 games in 27 days starting Friday.
David Morgan Gets Another Chance to Prove Himself
David Morgan, who was recalled to the Padres’ roster in late April but optioned to Triple-A without appearance, will again have the opportunity to make his MLB debut. Morgan had never pitched at Triple-A before his earlier call-up and has struggled with a 12.71 ERA in seven appearances totaling 5 2/3 innings at that level in 2025. The main challenge has been his susceptibility to home runs, allowing five in just over 14 innings across Double-A and Triple-A this year compared to seven over 108 1/3 innings previously.
Despite these difficulties, Morgan continues to impress with his command, maintaining excellent control. His strikeout rate has jumped to 45.45% this year, reflecting his ability to generate swings and misses even as he adjusts to higher levels of competition. Morgan’s promotion demonstrates the Padres’ need for pitching depth as they navigate stretches with key players unavailable.