With the eighth overall pick, the Blue Jays could select… JoJo Parker?
Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Jun 27, 2025, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 27, 2025, 17:46 EDT
There are a whole bunch of high school shortstops who could be available for the Toronto Blue Jays when they pick eighth overall.
We’ve already looked at two, Eli Willits and Billy Carlson. Another one of these prep shortstops is JoJo Parker, who attended Purvis High School in Purvis, Mississippi.
Let’s get to know the 18-year-old.
JoJo Parker’s bio
Parker stands at 6’2”, 200 lbs and played shortstop for Purvis High School. Less than a month after the draft, Parker will turn 19 years old, making him one of the older prep players in the draft. He shares the same birthday (August 8) as another player in this draft, as his twin brother Jacob Parker is also a draft-eligible prospect who’ll go in the third or fourth round.
Unsurprisingly, the Blue Jays have never drafted a player from Pervis High School, but they have selected 14 players from high schools around Mississippi; only three have signed. In 2012, the Jays selected D.J. Davis in the first round from Stone High School, followed by Anthony Alford in the third round out of Petal High School. In the second round of the 1988 draft, the Jays selected catcher Timothy Hodge.
There have been three players drafted from Purvis High School. Walter Young was selected in the 31st round of the 1999 draft, making his big league debut against the Blue Jays in 2005. Tragically, he passed away when he was 35 years old.
The Parker brothers won’t be the only set of brothers selected from Purvis High School. Brothers Kenny Rayborn and Kris Rayborn were each drafted from Purvis. Kris signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 1998 draft. Kenny was selected in the 67th round of the 1993 draft, but elected to head to the University of South Alabama and was drafted for a second time in 1997 by the Seattle Mariners.
JoJo Parker’s tools
Parker is best known for his bat. He has a plus hit tool, driving the balls to all fields and avoiding chasing pitches outside. There’s also some power potential in his bat, according to MLB Pipeline bio, which notes he could hit 20-25 homers a season as he fills out his frame.
Unlike Carlson or even Willits, Parker doesn’t have the strongest glove at shortstop and could move off the position as he progresses in his professional career. That said, he’ll have the chance to play the position to start his professional career, and he could move to third or second base. He has average speed.
Parker ranks as MLB Pipeline’s ninth-best prospect, while his twin brother ranks as the 109th-best prospect. Both are committed to playing for Mississippi State if they don’t turn professional.
JoJo Parker’s grades
As always, here are Parker’s grades according to MLB Pipeline.
Tool | Grade |
Hit | 60 |
Power | 55 |
Run | 50 |
Arm | 55 |
Field | 50 |
Will the Blue Jays select JoJo Parker?
As you know, the Blue Jays’ top prospect is shortstop Arjun Nimmala, who was picked 20th overall in the 2023 draft. However, drafting for need is not what a team should be doing in the first round; instead, drafting the best player available is the way to go.
While both Nimmala and Parker could move off shortstop, that’s something the Blue Jays would have to deal with further on down the road, and even then, it would still work out as Parker may also move to second base.
As I was writing this article, I talked myself into the Blue Jays selecting Parker with their eighth overall pick. It’d be pretty cool to see his brother Jacob selected in the fourth round, while the Jays focus on a college bat or arm in the third round.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.