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.
Related Videos
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.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
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.
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.