Current Contract
Contract renewable through 2012.

Became a Cardinal
Selected in the 44th round (1,334th overall) of the June, 2005 First-Year Player Draft. Signed to a 2006 contract on May 29, 2006.

2008 Season
King closed out the 2008 calendar year by playing winter ball in the Hawaii Winter League for the Honolulu Sharks. During the regular season, Blake split playing time between Quad Cities and Palm Beach, posting a combined record of 3-8 with an ERA of 4.52, appearing in 31 games, including 15 starts, 93.2 innings.

2007 Season
King began the 2007 campaign in the Quad Cities, where he went 2-3 with a 5.21 ERA in 19 outings (nine starts). He struck out 62 over 57 innings and held opponents to a .214 batting average. He also walked 44 and threw 18 wild pitches, however, leading to a mid-season demotion to Batavia. In 16 appearances (nine starts) with the Muckdogs, King went 1-4 with a 4.70 ERA, 65 strikeouts, and 34 walks in 53.2 innings.

Career Notes
King made 13 starts for Rookie-level Johnson City in 2006, going 4-3 with a 3.02 ERA. He allowed 37 hits, struck out 74 and walked 29 in 62.2 innings. His 74 strikeouts ranked 2nd in the Appalachian League in 2006 and his 3.02 ERA ranked 7th.

MISC
King's grandfather, Roy Mantle, was a brother of New York Yankees star Mickey Mantle.

Player Awards
Birdhouse Top 40 Prospect 2008: #34

Photo: St. Louis Cardinals