Warwick’s Michael King gets set for Saturday start in homecoming to New England

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Bishop Hendricken alum Michael King returned home to the Northeast this weekend as the San Diego Padres visited the Boston Red Sox.

“I definitely had this one circled on the schedule,” King said. “I’ve got a bunch of family and friends that are coming today and tomorrow, saw a bunch of them yesterday, so it’s definitely an awesome time coming back here.”

Formerly a New York Yankee, King was traded to the Padres last offseason as part of the return for Juan Soto.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting it, even though in the media it was all covered that I was going to be part of that package,” King said. “But really…I knew the opportunity I was getting in San Diego.”

The converted reliever is still adjusting to his new role in the Padres starting rotation.

“The main thing for me is knowing when to turn on the reliever switch and turn on the starter switch,” King said. “I have to learn to minimize damage but also minimize the pitch count and be able to go deep into games.”

The native Rhode Islander is also settling into a new life on the West Coast while earning the respect of esteemed teammates.

“He’s taken the ball every time out,” Padres starter Dylan Cease said. “More times than not it’s a very high-quality start, [he] strikes a lot of guys out. He’s been really solid.”

King has also made some local connections along the way.

“Michael King has been a huge addition for us,” Padres broadcaster Don Orsillo said. “It’s been great personally for me, having lived for a better part of 20 years in Rhode Island, to have somebody from Warwick on our pitching staff in San Diego is pretty cool.”

While he may miss home at times, King says he can’t deny the fit in San Diego.

“It’s a winning team and an awesome city,” King said. “So I can’t complain at all that I got traded over there. I miss my family, miss my friends, ’cause they’re all East Coast, all in the Northeast, but it’s been an awesome opportunity for me. My wife has been out there making it an easy transition, so it’s been good.”