Rangers Sign Former Homegrown Reliever
Homecoming After A Rough Stretch
King's return to Texas closes a full circle that started nearly a decade ago.
The Rangers drafted him in the 10th round out of the University of Houston back in 2017, and he spent four seasons in their organization, posting a 4.27 ERA across 87 appearances and 126 innings from 2020 to 2023.
Texas traded him to St. Louis at the 2023 deadline in the deal that brought back Jordan Montgomery, sending King along with prospects Tekoah Roby and Thomas Saggese.
The Rangers have signed LHP John King to a minor league deal.
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) September 1, 2026
The years since haven't gone as smoothly. The Cardinals non-tendered him after the 2025 season, and King signed a one-year major league deal with the Miami Marlins this past February, hoping a change of scenery could help him build on a strong 2024 campaign in which he posted a 2.85 ERA over 60 innings.
Instead, Miami released him last week. Across 50 appearances and 49 innings with the Marlins this year, King posted a 3.99 ERA, though his underlying numbers, a 4.04 expected ERA and a steeper 4.86 FIP, suggest the results were better than his true performance.
Texas Is Betting On Him Again
King has always profiled as a sinkerballer who lives on ground balls rather than strikeouts, ranking in the 98th percentile in ground-ball rate in both 2024 and 2025.
That kind of contact management gives him a path back to a big league bullpen if his command sharpens up, even with a modest 5.9 strikeouts-per-nine rate for his career.
For now, the deal gives Texas rotation and bullpen insurance at Triple-A Round Rock as the Rangers push through the stretch run, with a familiar face returning to the organization that first developed him.
