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Blue Jays Nation’s 2026 Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 3: JoJo Parker
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Feb 28, 2026, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 28, 2026, 03:37 EST
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The expectations are high for the Toronto Blue Jays’ first round pick in 2025, JoJo Parker.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s bi-annual prospect ranking, where we’ll look at the top 35 prospects in the system in the month of February. As always, I’ll look at the player’s stats, what other publications have to say, as well as my own observations of the players. If you missed the fourth-ranked prospect, you can read about Gage Stanifer here.

Getting to know JoJo Parker…

Position: Shortstop
Bats: Left
Born: August 8th, 2006
Acquired: First round, 2025 MLB Draft
Previous ranking: 2nd
The 2024 season was a dismal one for the Blue Jays, as they finished with a 74-88 record, the worst in the American League East. Their record was the seventh-worst in Major League Baseball, but they had the fifth-best odds to land the first overall pick. They didn’t, and in fact, they dropped down to the eighth overall pick.
Waiting for them there was one of the best hitting high school shortstops in the class, JoJo Parker. They called his name eighth overall, and he agreed to a signing bonus of $6.2 million. Like most high school players that the Blue Jays select, Parker didn’t make his professional debut the same season he was drafted, meaning he has still yet to make it.
By selecting Parker, the Blue Jays now have three legitimate shortstop prospects in their top five, alongside Arjun Nimmala (who ranks shortly) and Juan Sanchez, who is our fifth-ranked prospect. Adding in some high-end pitching prospects and soon-to-be-ready MLB outfielders, and the farm system in a much better place than it was just a season ago.
Although Parker has yet to make his professional debut, there’s a lot to like about the 19-year-old’s game. Ranking as MLB Pipeline’s 45th-best prospect in baseball heading into 2026, they gave his hit tool at 60, thanks to a good left-handed swing and a great eye at the plate. On top of that, his power was graded at 55, as the 6’2”, 200 lbs shortstop still has room to grow.
However, he’ll probably move off the position to either third or second base because of that projection. Additionally, Parker ranked as Fangraphs’ fourth-best Blue Jays prospect in their pre-season ranking, echoing the sentiment that he’ll likely move off shortstop and has a strong bat.
He’ll likely begin his season with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays in the spring.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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