By Canadian Press

Blue Jays pick shortstop JoJo Parker with eighth pick in MLB draft

Jul 13, 2025 | 4:37 PM

ATLANTA — The Toronto Blue Jays selected shortstop JoJo Parker eighth overall in the first round of Major League Baseball’s draft on Sunday.

The six-foot-two Parker, 18, attended Purvis High School in Mississippi. He became the highest-ever pick out of Purvis.

He batted .489 with 13 home runs, 64 runs scored and 35 RBIs this past season.

The 200-pound athlete also stole 30 bases to lead the Tornadoes (29-8) to the Class 4A state championship game.

Parker, also a right-handed pitcher on the high school level, boasted an 8-2 record on the mound with a 2.77 earned-run average and 89 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched.

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He is currently signed to play college baseball with Mississippi State University next season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press