Lamar King

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #16 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: King is the son of Lamar King, a former NFL first-round pick who played defensive end for five years for the Seattle Seahawks. The younger King emerged as one of the top prep catchers in his class during national travel ball tournaments and was committed to Georgia Tech before the Padres drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $502,800. He played just four games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in his pro debut while focusing on development away from live games.
  
  Scouting Report: Built like a rush defensive end like his father, King's loud, pull power from the right side is his carrying tool. He has above-average power and could grow into more, but his swing is long and a bit stiff and will need to be ironed out in pro ball. While size typically works against catchers, King is an average runner, is quick in small spaces and sits well behind the plate. He has above-average arm strength, but his hands and receiving need work as evidenced by some of his defensive struggles in instructional league.
  
  The Future: King is raw and has a lot of development ahead, but he has enough projectable tools to potentially click as an offensive-minded catcher with an impact bat. He'll likely open 2023 back in the ACL.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #198 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Calvert Hall HS, Baltimore Committed/Drafted: Georgia Tech
  Age At Draft: 18.6
  BA Grade: 40/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50
  King is the son of Lamar King, a former NFL first-round pick who played five years as a defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks. The younger King is a physical, 6-foot-3, 215-pound catcher who has standout power from the right side. He’s more of a power-over-hit bat currently, with a swing that can get stiff at times, but the power is extremely loud. He sits well behind the plate and caught more often for the same Canes National travel ball team that Northern California backstop Malcolm Moore also played for. King seems like a bit of a split-camp prospect in the industry, with those highest on him seeing him as a catcher at the next level who has an impact bat, and others likely wanting to see him get to campus at Georgia Tech—which has an excellent track record developing catchers—and prove his pure hitting ability.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: King is the son of Lamar King, a former NFL first-round pick who played defensive end for five years for the Seattle Seahawks. The younger King emerged as one of the top prep catchers in his class during national travel ball tournaments and was committed to Georgia Tech before the Padres drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $502,800. He played just four games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in his pro debut while focusing on development away from live games.
  
  Scouting Report: Built like a rush defensive end like his father, King's loud, pull power from the right side is his carrying tool. He has above-average power and could grow into more, but his swing is long and a bit stiff and will need to be ironed out in pro ball. While size typically works against catchers, King is an average runner, is quick in small spaces and sits well behind the plate. He has above-average arm strength, but his hands and receiving need work as evidenced by some of his defensive struggles in instructional league.
  
  The Future: King is raw and has a lot of development ahead, but he has enough projectable tools to potentially click as an offensive-minded catcher with an impact bat. He'll likely open 2023 back in the ACL.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: King is the son of Lamar King, a former NFL first-round pick who played defensive end for five years for the Seattle Seahawks. The younger King emerged as one of the top prep catchers in his class during national travel ball tournaments and was committed to Georgia Tech before the Padres drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $502,800. He played just four games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in his pro debut while focusing on development away from live games.
  
  Scouting Report: Built like a rush defensive end like his father, King's loud, pull power from the right side is his carrying tool. He has above-average power and could grow into more, but his swing is long and a bit stiff and will need to be ironed out in pro ball. While size typically works against catchers, King is an average runner, is quick in small spaces and sits well behind the plate. He has above-average arm strength, but his hands and receiving need work as evidenced by some of his defensive struggles in instructional league.
  
  The Future: King is raw and has a lot of development ahead, but he has enough projectable tools to potentially click as an offensive-minded catcher with an impact bat. He'll likely open 2023 back in the ACL.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.