With emotional Draft behind him, Parker already developing in Dunedin

TORONTO -- It’s a big new world for JoJo Parker.

One month after the 2025 MLB Draft, the Blue Jays’ first-round pick is a long way from his native Mississippi, fully settled into the club’s Player Development Complex in Dunedin, Fla. Now, the 19-year-old Parker has access to more technology and resources than ever before in his baseball journey.

The whole process happened pretty fast. Just two days after being taken with the eighth overall Draft pick, Parker was already making his way to the PDC. After a long and testing period of waiting for his selection, the shortstop was eager to hit the ground running.

“It was a year-long process of stress and everything in between,” Parker said in an introductory Zoom call before the Blue Jays’ 4-1 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday at Rogers Centre. “But when I heard my name called, it really [brought me] relief. I could breathe a little bit.”

There’s an evenness to the way Parker describes the experience, but the emotion is still there.

JoJo and his twin brother, Jacob (who was drafted in the 19th round by the D-backs), hail from Purvis, Miss., a town of under 2,000 people. Only four other players had been drafted out of Purvis High School before the Parker brothers were selected this year. Yet, JoJo emerged as one of the top shortstops in this Draft class.

“Everyone that I know in the amateur world was raving about him when we got him,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “So I know he's a good player. I know he's kind of self-made. I think we're anxious to see how he uses everything we have to offer to keep elevating his game.”

The lefty-hitting Parker caught the eye of scouts by displaying a lot of what the Blue Jays have sought out in their player development: a contact-oriented swing with power potential.

He didn’t rely on technology or personal instructors, though.

“I’ve never had a hitting coach, I’ve never had a fielding coach, so I’m really excited to get involved with the coaches here,” said Parker. “They’re really smart with how they do stuff. They’re professionals. So I’m excited to deal with professionals and have a coach that knows what they’re doing to prepare me for the next coming weeks, years and months.”

Up to this point, Parker relied on his brother and their father, Joseph, to keep evolving in his game. It started with some friendly competition among twins, and it grew into a system of trust and accountability.

“I think that’s why I made it as far as I am today, it’s that me and [my brother] literally competed with each other every single day and made each other better,” said Parker. “And my dad is really smart on the baseball side. So [it was] us three working together, swinging in the cages every single day. They both know my swing better than I do. We all work together in that sense.”

Parker is about to welcome many more voices into his work.

It’s not uncommon for even newly arrived big league players to laud the state-of-the-art facilities in Dunedin. For a young player who’s never had a personal coach, the change of scenery can be a little overwhelming. But the Blue Jays have had success onboarding their new signees through the PDC, and Parker knows there’s much to gain from diving into the resources.

The plan for now is to keep getting stronger. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Parker should grow into more power at the plate. On the defensive side, the Blue Jays want him to develop a wider base and keep working on the fundamentals at the shortstop position. His arm packs a punch already, which should facilitate a move to third base if necessary, but the club will give Parker a real chance at sticking to shortstop.

Describing himself as a “team player,” Parker is aware of the long road ahead. He’s not in Mississippi anymore. For the first time in his career, he won’t have his brother with him either -- Jacob committed to Mississippi State after being drafted by the D-backs. But this is what he’s worked for. That deep breath of relief last month was only the first step.

“It was definitely a lifelong dream of mine to hear my name called,” said Parker. “It was a really cool experience, just to see my family and friends behind me and all their emotions. It was just an awesome experience.”