The St. Louis Cardinals have added some young pitching depth to their farm system by signing right-handed pitcher Justin Militello to a two-year minor league contract. The 22-year-old hurler, who hails from Howell, Michigan, joins the organization after a stint in the Atlanta Braves system and a standout recent showcase performance.
Militello, born December 3, 2003, stands at 6’1″ and 190 pounds. He originally signed with the Braves as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Over two partial seasons in Atlanta’s minors (primarily 2024-2025), he appeared in 27 games, tossing 74.2 innings with 68 strikeouts—an impressive 8.2 K/9 rate that highlights his swing-and-miss potential. However, control issues were evident, with 55 walks contributing to a higher ERA (around 8.56 career in the minors) and a 1.82 WHIP.
The signing came shortly after Militello impressed at a “pro day” showcase hosted by Coach K’s Academy in Illinois, where reports noted his velocity jump (from earlier 88-91 mph readings to sitting 94-96 mph) and the addition of an elite cutter. Scouts have described his stuff as “outlier” quality for a young arm with upside, making this a classic low-risk, high-reward move for the Cardinals’ scouting and player development staff.
Following the signing, Militello was assigned to the Peoria Chiefs, the Cardinals’ Single-A affiliate in the Midwest League.
