Nick King

NICK KING, SHORTSTOP
Born: November 12, 1993
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Independent League, 2016
How Acquired: Contract purchased from independent league team
College: University of Georgia
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

King played shortstop for Georgia for two years.  Prior to that, he played at Riverside Community College.  King didn’t hit much at Georgia, with a .639 OPS as a junior and a .570 OPS as a senior.  He wasn’t drafted and signed with Schaumberg of the Frontier League.  He played only a handful of games there before the Pirates purchased his contract.

2016
IND:  071/071/071, 14 AB, 2 K
A-:  196/265/261, 92 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 BB, 27 K, 0-2 SB

The Pirates acquired King after several of their lower level middle infielders went down with injuries in June.  He got a fair amount of playing time, mostly at second and third, with two games at short.  He didn’t hit much but played well in the field.

2017
R:  193/338/228, 57 AB, 2 2B, 11 BB, 12 K, 5-5 SB
A-:  200/286/280, 25 AB, 1 3B, 3 BB, 5 K, 0-1 SB
A:  167/239/214, 2 2B, 2 BB, 14 K

King filled in at three different levels when there was a need.  He spent the last three weeks of the season playing regularly in the GCL.  I’m not sure whether it was due to injuries or because the team wanted a more experienced player.  He managed to see time everywhere except left field, catcher and pitcher.

King figures to continue as a utility infielder somewhere in the low minors.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2018: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2016
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2022
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2019
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 28, 2016: Contract purchased from independent league team by the Pittsburgh Pirates.