First-year Blue Jays scouting director Marc Tramuta generally leans toward up-the-middle, athletic and versatile players in the draft, and he got that and more with first-rounder JoJo Parker.
The 18-year-old shortstop out of Purvis High in Mississippi first became a target for the club last summer and ended up the eighth overall selection after 14 different members of the scouting department had various looks at him.
Tramuta, who previously served as Mets scouting director, described Parker as having “the best hit-power combo with plate discipline that we felt was in the draft.” The Blue Jays quickly brought the pick into the fold by signing him for $6.2 million, which was roughly $600,000 under slot.
“His swing we think is advanced. We think his plate discipline is advanced. The contact has shown up,” Tramuta said. “Our analysts have obviously done their jobs, and he was very strong in those departments as far as contact and consistency with his barrel.
“And we think he’s going to grow into more power. He has it now, but we think he’ll grow into some more.”
Parker is the second prep shortstop selected in the first round in three years by the Blue Jays, joining Arjun Nimmala, the 20th overall pick in 2023. One reason Tramuta likes up-the-middle players is that they move easily to other positions, and it’s possible Parker eventually ends up at third base.
There’s time to sort that out. More pressing to the Blue Jays when drafting a prep player so high is his readiness to go from high school play to a full-season minor league the next year.
“We definitely think that this is one of those players in terms of talent, how advanced he is,” Tramuta said. “Obviously that’s a question for (farm director) Joe Sclafani and his staff, as well.
“But in terms of how we view it as scouts, that’s one of the questions that we want to ask.”