Blue Jays select high school shortstop Parker with No. 8 pick in MLB draft

Article content

For a prospect pool that has been maligned at times in recent years, it’s been a nice little run of high-end, first-round drafting by the Blue Jays of late.

In 2024, it was right-handed pitcher Trey Yesavage, a 20th overall selection who is rocketing up the chain in the Jays system.

In 2023, shortstop Arjun Nimmala, also a 20th overall pick, has been the darling of the Jays development program, a high-schooler with can’t-miss prospectus.

Joining that group Sunday was another teenage shortstop, JoJo Parker from Purvis High School in Mississippi. The 18-year-old is considered one of the best all-around hitters available among high school prospects and it was clear that Parker was a focus of Jays scouts in the weeks leading up to the draft.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder wields a powerful left-handed bat, which also would have added to the attraction.

It was the first draft under the stewardship of the Jays new amateur scouting director, Marc Tramuta who was obviously attracted to Parker’s physical skills on the offensive side. Tramuta said that the team had a total of 14 scouts see Parker in action, exhaustive research that led to a consensus when the Jays were on the clock in Atlanta.

While they see a sound defender who can move around the infielder, the potential for a power bat topped the list of attractions.

“We were really drawn to the potential offensive impact he can have,” Tramuta said in a Zoom call with Blue Jays beat media on Sunday night. “We think he will grow into some more power. He has it now but we think there will be more.

“He’s a player we targeted. (He was) very high on our board. We couldn’t be more excited to get what we feel will be a well-rounded offensive player.”

The opportunity to pick inside the top 10 was a consolation to help ease the pain from the disastrous 74-88 last-place effort in 2024.

Parker, whose twin brother Jacob is also expected to be picked in the draft, was the Jays’ highest pick since 2020, when the team selected Austin Martin at No. 5 overall.

While the infielder never materialized in the majors with the Jays, he provided the team with prospect currency for one of general manager Ross Atkins’ best trades with the team. On July 30, 2021, Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson were shipped to the Minnesota Twins for righty Jose Berrios, who has since been a stalwart in the Toronto rotation.

The draft, which is held in Atlanta in conjunction with all-star week festivities, isn’t bountiful with picks at the top end for the Jays, who have just four picks in the first five rounds at Nos. 8, 81, 112 and 143 overall. The Jays didn’t have a second-round pick, the price they paid for signing injured slugger Anthony Santander as a free agent.

Rounds 1 through 3 took place Sunday night with four through 20 slated for Monday before the Home Run Derby, which gets underway at Truist Park at 8 p.m.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video