Padres offer no clear answers as Michael King's return timeline shifts again

The San Diego Padres remain frustratingly tight-lipped about Michael King’s status — and the uncertainty is only growing. After weeks of vague updates regarding his recent injury, the latest comments from manager Mike Shildt himself offered little clarity and even more cause for concern.

When asked by MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell on June 18 if King would be out through the All-Star break, Shildt’s response was hardly definitive. “I think that’s pretty accurate,” he replied, before quickly pivoting away from any firm timeline. The non-committal phrasing only further clouds the situation, especially for a team that could use some stability in their starting rotation.

Lack of clarity around Michael King’s injury adds pressure to Padres

King has been sidelined since May 24, with what’s been described as a pinched nerve in his shoulder — an injury the team initially downplayed. But nearly a month later, there’s still no target date for his return. For a club trying to stay afloat amid a downward trend in an extremely competitive NL West, the ambiguity surrounding one of their more valuable arms is more than troubling.

The timing couldn’t be worse. San Diego’s rotation has already been thinned by injuries to Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish. In their absence, Dylan Cease and Nick Pivetta have been tasked with keeping the rotation afloat — a tall order without the depth or consistency the club envisioned at the start of the year.

Before the injury, King was clearly living up to expectations. In his first 10 starts of 2025, the 30-year-old right-hander posted a stellar 2.59 ERA, punching out batters at a 28.4 percent clip while walking just 7.6 percent. His ground ball rate (38.3 percent) and home run suppression (under 1.0 HR/9) helped solidify him as a front-line starter. Add in a career-first shutout against the Rockies on April 13, and King looked poised to headline the Padres rotation for the season.

But now, the conversation is shifting — and in an unexpected way. With no official update on his rehab progress and little transparency from the front office, concern is beginning to mount. Was the injury more serious than initially let on? Is there a setback the team hasn’t disclosed?

The silence is particularly notable considering King’s looming free agency. He’s set to hit the open market this winter, and with the way he was pitching, he’s due for a big payday. But durability questions could complicate that narrative the longer he stays on the shelf.

For now, the Padres say he’s progressing. But until there’s a timeline — or better yet, a rehab appearance — the situation will remain murky. And if San Diego continues to struggle to find innings from its starters, the pressure on the team’s decision-makers to be more forthcoming will intensify.