Joey Milto comes to Pasadena, California for the summer of 2025 as a Southland foreigner. However, he almost immediately carved out a home right next to the Rose Bowl at Jackie Robinson Field with the Arroyo Seco Saints. 

When asked why Milto made the trek to Pasadena for this year’s California Collegiate League (CCL) season, he euphorically mentioned the atmosphere. 

“[The CCL] is a great league,” said the Saints right fielder. “Every night you come out here [and] hear [the announcers] announce the lineups and [realize that these teams] have all of the Power Four schools out here. Also, [being in] California, you cannot complain.” 

The competitive aspect of the CCL, combined with the league’s location, has Milto thriving in all aspects of the game. He has been an asset in both right field and at the plate.  

However, Milto was not a physical force in his youth days (contrary to his performance this summer). Youth baseball made the Greenwood, Indiana native fall in love with the diamond at a young age. It also pushed Milto to always want to improve his craft. 

“I got to play with a lot of kids that were honestly better than me,” mentioned the Saints slugger. “[Baseball] was something I knew that if I worked hard [at it], I could be good [at it]. It is one of those sports where you don’t have to be the biggest or the strongest; I was a late bloomer [and found that] if I outworked people, I could be successful.” 

As Milto matured into the high school ranks, he faced a fair share of hurdles. His freshman season was abbreviated thanks (or no thanks) to a bicep injury, and his sophomore year was swallowed up by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Despite the early hardships, Milto kept his head down and knew he had to show out during his two years of varsity baseball at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis. His relentless work ethic yielded many awards, like 2021 and 2022 first-team All-Conference honors, the 2022 Roncalli Baseball Mental Attitude Award and even Roncalli High School’s Male All Sports Legacy Award. 

“[My high school] conference was really good,” Milto commented. “I faced Division I arms every week; even some guys in our conference got drafted.” 

Milto also played high school football. In fact, his team won the 2020 Indiana Class 4A State Championship. He reflected on his high school football journey and how it felt to win a state championship. 

“Our state championship was in Lucas Oil Stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play, so it was a really cool environment,” said Milto. “It was a unique experience that not everyone gets to have.” 

The Saints right fielder also described how being a multi-sport athlete has benefited him throughout the years. 

“[High school football] is a grind,” said a nostalgic Milto. “Every day is practice after school; you have to work on time management. There is more discipline [involved] than in baseball, honestly. [Being] in the weight room consistently all year round with football and baseball is a big deal; it has helped me develop a lot. Working hard is the biggest thing [I took away] from football.” 

Milto described his baseball recruiting process as “pretty slow,” but was grateful to get an offer from and commit to Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, about 105 miles away from his hometown. 

At Bellarmine, Milto played for three seasons and exponentially improved year after year. By far, his most impressive season was this past year. Milto’s junior year saw a .264 batting average, 18 extra-base hits (five home runs) and 25 RBIs in 52 starts. 

“If you look back, I have grown a lot [at Bellarmine],” mentioned Milto. “The hard work [I put in] and the last three years at Bellarmine have helped me a lot, and I am excited to see what the future holds for me.” 

Similar to many of his Saints teammates, Milto is in the NCAA Transfer Portal. He is continually in the weight room and working with his hitting coach, Cody Fowler, to get stronger and compound upon his productive junior season. 

“I want to see what else is out there for my last year,” said Milto when asked why he entered the Transfer Portal. “I have progressed a lot and I want to see what else is out there. I love Bellarmine and the coaching staff, and they wished me the best.” 

Milto mentioned that he wants to continue to grow and prosper in his senior and final year of college baseball. He wants to find a school that enables him to achieve his dreams and stay competitive while doing so. 

This summer, Milto chose to venture to the Saints organization, and his decision has seemingly paid off so far. He has pounded a team-leading three home runs and a CCL-leading 23 RBIs. 

The Saints right fielder described his time in Pasadena so far as “the best experience I have had for summer ball for sure.” He also shared his thoughts as to why he has had so much success this summer. 

“Each day is a new day and a new opportunity,” mentioned the level-headed slugger. “One day you can go 0-5 and then go 5-5 the next day. I try to keep my head down and not look at the stats and just keep going.” 

As the CCL’s season has eclipsed the halfway point, Milto’s mind is as focused as ever, saying that he wants to be selected for the CCL Showcase Game. Despite an active mind and individual aspirations, Milto also puts an emphasis on team goals, saying that “as a team, I hope we make the playoffs and do well in them.” 

His final message regarding his overarching mindset for the rest of the summer was simple: winning baseball games is way more fun than anything else. If Milto stays sharp and keeps up his stellar production, both he and the Saints will surely be in a position for sustained success as the summer winds down. 

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Graphic by Saints reporter Taylor Dowdy (Arizona)