Bobby Milacki Discusses Signing with the Blue Jays and Goals for 2025 Season
Following a busy period at the Winter Meetings in Dallas, the Toronto Blue Jays made a noteworthy addition to their pitching depth by signing right-handed pitcher Bobby Milacki to a minor league contract. Milacki’s signing follows his two-year stint in the San Diego Padres’ minor league system. This move comes as the Blue Jays continue to build their roster for the upcoming season. Milacki expressed his excitement about joining Toronto, noting that he has always respected the organization and its approach to the game, even when he was an opposing player.
Speaking about his decision to sign with the Blue Jays, Milacki shared that several teams had shown interest in him during the off-season. However, he felt a special connection to Toronto, which made it an appealing choice for his next career step. “I really liked the Blue Jays organization and the way they carried themselves, even when I was on opposing teams,” Milacki explained. “When my agent told me there was interest from Toronto, I thought it was a good match.” He also revealed that his father, Bob Milacki, who had a solid Major League career, had fond memories of pitching in Toronto, describing it as one of his favorite places to take the mound. This family connection to the Blue Jays’ home city added to Bobby’s enthusiasm about joining the team.
Baseball runs deep in the Milacki family, as Bobby’s father, Bob, had a successful career in the big leagues, pitching primarily for the Kansas City Royals. Bob Milacki appeared in 143 games across eight seasons, with 125 of those being starts. Throughout his career, he posted a solid 4.38 ERA over 795 2/3 innings. Bob Milacki also had the chance to pitch at Toronto’s iconic Skydome, where he made five appearances. This connection to Toronto has had a lasting impact on Bobby, who continues to receive valuable guidance from his father. The two have worked closely together on Bobby’s mechanics and pitch selection throughout his career.
“My father has always been my catching partner, and we are constantly working together, adjusting things in my mechanics or pitch selection,” Bobby shared. “He pitched in an era without the advanced analytics and video feedback we have now, but we’re always watching video and working on improvements. He’s been a huge help in teaching me what to look for when analyzing opposing batters and understanding which pitch to throw next.”
Bobby Milacki’s professional journey began when he was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2018. After spending two seasons in their farm system, he was released during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, along with many other minor leaguers. Following this setback, Milacki played for the Minnesota Twins and various Independent League teams before eventually signing with the Padres in 2023.
During his time in the Padres’ minor league system, Milacki spent time with both their high-A and double-A affiliates. He posted a respectable 3.90 ERA across 32 appearances, which included five starts. Milacki also recorded a 1.313 WHIP, 3.1 walks per nine innings, and a solid 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings. To finish off the 2023 season, Milacki played in Puerto Rico for the Cangrejeros de Santurce, where he made five relief appearances and allowed only one earned run in 5 2/3 innings.
Reflecting on his 2023 season, Milacki admitted that it didn’t go as he had hoped, especially toward the end of the year. “I really wasn’t getting what I wanted from my changeup,” he said. However, Milacki sought to improve by learning from other pitchers, including Major League pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, whom he watched closely during the World Series. Inspired by Eovaldi’s success with the split-finger fastball, Milacki decided to add that pitch to his arsenal. “It was working for me, and I was trying it out in Puerto Rico, and having a lot of success with it,” he noted. “It’s definitely something I’ll have in my back pocket for the upcoming season.”
Milacki also had the opportunity to receive advice from a renowned figure in baseball—Hideo Nomo, a Japanese Baseball Hall of Famer who had taken on an advisory role with the Padres. Milacki described the experience of working with Nomo on his split-finger pitch as invaluable. “Learning from him was such an incredible experience,” Milacki said. “Joining a team with other splitter specialists like Kevin Gausman and Erik Swanson will be great for my development with the pitch as well.”
The 2024 season saw Milacki excel at the double-A level with the San Antonio Missions, where he posted an impressive 2.63 ERA to start the year. After a brief stint in triple-A El Paso, Milacki returned to San Antonio and continued to dominate, finishing the season with a 3.13 ERA, 1.217 WHIP, and a solid 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Over the course of 46 innings, he allowed just 16 earned runs and two home runs, showing significant control with only seven walks for a 1.4 walks per nine innings rate. Milacki’s strong performance in the minors helped him earn the chance to join the Blue Jays organization heading into 2025.
As Milacki prepares for his new opportunity with the Blue Jays, he is focused on refining his skills and continuing to improve as a pitcher. “I’m always working on my command, especially with my fastball,” Milacki shared. “I want to fine-tune my fastball command and increase my swing-and-miss rate with it. Minimizing mistakes and avoiding missing my spots will be crucial as I continue to progress.” With his continued development, Milacki is looking forward to contributing to the Blue Jays’ pitching depth and is ready to seize any opportunity that may arise at the Major League level.
Heading into the 2025 season, Milacki is determined to make the most of his fresh start with Toronto. He is likely to begin the year in triple-A, where he will add valuable depth to the team’s pitching staff, but will be ready to contribute in the majors should the need arise. Milacki’s focus on improving his command and adding new pitches to his arsenal shows his dedication to refining his craft, and he remains optimistic about his future in professional baseball.
