2025 Draft Prospect - #86 - SS -JoJo Parker - Purvis (MS)

 

On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/  -

#86                 JoJo Parker              SS, Purvis (MS)

18/years old           6' 2"               195

COMMITTED - Mississippi State 

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

The Parker twins are the best high school position prospects in Mississippi. Outfielder Jacob has more raw power, but infielder JoJo offers a more enticing package with superior hitting ability and athleticism. Multiple scouts have drawn parallels between JoJo and Carter Johnson, an Alabama prep shortstop who signed with the Marlins for a well-over-slot $2.8 million as a second-rounder last July.

Parker has a chance to be a plus hitter with average power. He has a sound left-handed swing, manages the strike zone well and employs a gap-to-gap approach. He shows some feel for driving balls in the air and is posting more impressive exit velocities as he continues to gain strength.

While Parker will get the chance to play shortstop at the next level, his actions, quickness and arm strength all grade as average. That likely will dictate a move to second or third base in the future, though he should provide enough offense to profile at either position. The twins are committed to playing together at Mississippi State if they don't turn pro.

1-27-25  -  Just Baseball –

2025 MLB Draft - Top 80 High School Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-high-school-prep-prospects/

14. Joseph “JoJo” Parker – SS

HT/WT: 6’2/195 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Purvis (MS) | Commitment: Mississippi State | Age: 18.11

While Joseph doesn’t have the same kind of physicality as his twin brother, he put together one of the loudest summers of any prep in this class.

Parker employs a narrow stance with an open front leg before expanding his lower half, which helps him coil his body and possess good hip/shoulder separation. His barrel flies through the zone as a result and there’s an excellent barrel feel with an emphasis for hitting the gaps.

He has posted robust exit velocities to his pull side and has solid power potential to that side of the park. Pair that with excellent contact rates (93% on heaters this summer) and you’ve got a budding offensive profile that scouts love.

Defensively, Parker has the tools, instincts, and arm strength to handle the “six” long term. He has rangy actions with solid speed and a quick first step to either side of his body, though as he grows, he may move to third base. There’s a good chance he may go higher in the draft than his brother. He is committed to Chris Lemonis’ crew in Starkville.

 

 

https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=689260 –

2024 National Showcase 

Joseph Parker is a 2025 SS/RHP/2B with a 6-2 195 lb. frame from Purvis, MS who attends Purvis. Athletic build with good size and present strength and plenty of physical projection remaining. Left handed hitter, hits from a narrow slightly open stance, loose and fluid swing with very good extension, has big present bat speed, pretty much on the barrel for every swing in batting practice and the games, showed big power to all fields, no problem driving the left center field gap as comfortably as lifting and pulling, very advanced hitter. 6.86 runner in the sixty. Primary shortstop on defense, plays light on his feet and moves well to both sides, works through his throws with some momentum, good glove to hand actions and can change his throwing slots. Outstanding student, verbal commitment to Mississippi State. Selected to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

 

https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/JoJo-Parker-Mississippi-State-174526767/ -

“We went to the Mississippi State camp, then we went to the Ole Miss camp where we were offered. We were offered by Mississippi State about a week later," said JoJo, who bats left and throws from the right side. "It was cool being offered by both of them. I liked Ole Miss. It is a great school. But I liked the Mississippi State coaches a lot better. I like their facilities and how they run their program. I also like their fanbase. And it just felt like home at Starkville."

JoJo pointed out what the Bulldog coaching staff liked about him as a baseball player.

"They told me that they really liked my defense, my ability to hit the ball (to all fields) and how I play the game." said JoJo, who is 6-0, 165 pounds.

He remembers how excited he was when he and Jacob made the call to commit to the Mississippi State coaches.

"It was unreal when we called them," said JoJo. "They were super excited and we were super excited to tell them that we were committing to their school."

Surprisedly, Jacob made the decision to be a Bulldog before JoJo did. It was a surprise because Jacob had actually grown up a fan of their main rival, Ole Miss.

"Jacob told me when he made the decision. It kind of surprised me because he liked Ole Miss," said JoJo, whose mother and father both attended Ole Miss. "But I think he was leaning toward Mississippi State before that. I made my decision about two or three days later. We really wanted to play together in college."

His brother Jacob described the type baseball player that Mississippi State is getting in JoJo.

"He is one of the best guys to play with because he can really get to the ball defensively," said Jacob Parker. "And it is hard to get him out because he can go to the opposite field, drive it up the middle and put it off the wall. He can really do anything."

JoJo Parker is ranked the 177th best player in the class of 2025 according to Perfect Game