TORONTO – Johnny King believes the fiery demeanour that’s part of his trademark on the mound is innate.

“I get the competitiveness from being a redheaded Italian — I mean, those two together is a very, very steamy combo,” explains the Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect dominating with the high-A Vancouver Canadians. “I have that keep-going mindset, just pitch-by-pitch, day-by-day. All that kind of stuff matters. The mental side matters more than anything in baseball. I just want the hitters to know that they're facing a fierce competitor, for sure.”

Opponents in the Northwest League are definitely finding out as the 19-year-old, 4.2 years younger than average in the loop, has struck out 83 in 61.2 innings with a 2.92 ERA over 16 starts. What’s more, he’s doing it while using a revamped changeup about 30 per cent of the time in games, showing a willingness to risk damage on a developmental priority that could become an ideal complement to his dominant fastball/curveball combo.

Veering from his best stuff in leverage can be hard for a pitcher with King’s fire and two elite primary weapons, but he’s embracing the bigger picture in his progression.

“He's already a stud, but for him to really evolve into the potential stud he can be, having that third pitch, especially something that gives hitters a different look, is big,” said Blue Jays farm director Joe Sclafani. “He's hit on some really good changeups and if he develops that even into an average one, he's going to be in great shape. We've talked to him a lot about it, like, we know you can get through these guys without leaning on it and you're a competitor and you want to win games, but we're trying to prepare you for the next levels. And he's responded. For him to be throwing it as often as he is now is really, really encouraging.”

The more he uses the change, the more comfortable he’s getting with the pitch, which King describes as a “splangeup.”

The well-executed ones drop sharply the way a splitter typically does, thanks to a grip in which his middle finger runs along one seam while he tucks his index finger into a circle.

“The changeup has been the huge thing for me,” King said. “They're trying to have me take shots with it at the level I'm at now. Like, if they hit a homer so what, who cares, we just want to see it develop. They want me to be comfortable........

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