"So precious" - Jackson Merrill's girlfriend Sammie, Joe Musgrove's partner Arica applaud Padres ace Michael King's charitable efforts for kids

If the 2024 season proved one thing to pitcher Michael King, it's that getting out of the Bronx was the best move he ever made. After a career season, the pitching star is making sure to give back to the community that made his season so memorable.

Over the weekend, the Padres pitcher took to Instagram. In the post, King was joined by his wife Sheila. In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, Michael and Sheila King visited the Type 1 Diabetes Clinic Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. The pitcher signed some balls, posed for some pictures and made the day of several young fans and their families.

"We kicked off #DiabetesAwarenessMonth by visiting patients & staff at @radychildrens T1D Clinic! As a leader in pediatric diabetes care, Rady Children’s is dedicated to discovering new treatments for patients and ultimately, a cure. Thank you for having us and sharing the incredible work you’re doing for kids in San Diego & beyond!" - Michael King

The video was indeed heartwarming, and proved as much for some familiar accounts. Among those who offered words of support were Sammy Quinn, girlfriend of Jackson Merrill, and Joe Musgrove's partner Arica. Both Merrill and Musgrove are teammates of Michael King's on the San Diego Padres.

Plenty of supportive comments for King's philanthropy at Rady Hospital

Traded to the Padres from the New York Yankees as part of the Juan Soto deal last December, Michael King transitioned to a full-time starter for the first time of his career. Across 30 starts, the 29 year-old posted a 13-9 record, throwing to a 2.95 ERA, and firing 201 strikeouts over the span of 173.2 innings on the bump.

Sheila and Michael King got married last December after dating for several years. As a type 1 Diabetic herself, Sheila understands the difficulties of living with the ailment. As such, she and her husband began the The King of the Hill Foundation to help those affected by the illness.

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Michael King and Sheila use new home as springboard for philanthropy

A former president of the Long Island Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Sheila King realized that San Diego is a hub of Diabetes research after her husband was traded there. She told MLB.com:

"When we moved out here, it felt like this community is so deeply embedded in Type 1 diabetes and healthcare with Rady (Children's Hospital) and Scripps and all the biotech companies. It kind of felt like we were here for a little bit more than just baseball. So we were like, this feels right. This feels like the right time to do this. It was a natural nudge."

Certainly passionate about the cause, Michael and Sheila now find themselves in the best possible position to make the sort of lasting impact that they are undoubtedly seeking.