By Billy Watkins

If you listened carefully to the Parker baseball family before the Major League draft, they said time and again that Mississippi State was still a viable option.

They meant it. 

Jacob Parker, an 18-year-old power-hitting outfielder from Purvis, announced Wednesday that he would enroll at State in the fall.  That is big news for new coach Brian O’Connor and all State fans.

Jacob’s fraternal twin, Jojo, was drafted No. 8 overall the Toronto Blue Jays. He still hasn’t announced his plans, but the infielder is slotted to earn a $6.8 million signing bonus. Negotiations will soon begin, but MLB teams rarely fail to sign a first-round pick.

   Jacob was projected to go in the third or fourth round, but slid to the 19th round. When that happens, it often has more to do with how much money teams say they’ll pay rather than a prospect’s talent. Teams are limited to a bonus pool for the overall draft.

State is getting a solid individual who loves baseball and won’t shy away from the work and grind the sport requires.

Jacob’s high school coach Tony Farlow, who has seen players come and go for 37 years, raved about his power and defense when I interviewed him.

“Jacob has never missed a ball in centerfield that I can remember,” Farlow said. “Scouts have seen him run balls down gap to gap, then throw out a runner trying to tag and reach third.

      “And when he hits the ball, it’s almost dangerous to be on the infield. He’s just a big, strong kid (6-foot-3 1/2, 215 pounds) who can run and hit.”

As a senior, Jacob batted .525 with 17 homers, 39 stolen bases and 53 hits in 36 games. During his career, he had 205 hits, 42 homers and 47 doubles. He also served as the team’s closer on the  mound.

Jacob and Jojo shared honors such as the MaxPreps’ and Perfect Game’s Player of the Year awards.

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A list of Mississippi players taken in the 2025 MLB draft

Round 1 (No, 8 overall)

*Jojo Parker    infielder.  Purvis HS   Blue Jays

Round 2

*JB Middleton   pitcher   Southern Miss    Rockies

Round 3

*Landon Harmon   pitcher      East Union   Nationals

*Jake Cook  outfielder  Southern Miss   Blue Jays

Mason Morris   pitcher    Ole Miss    Reds

Round 4

*Nick Monistere.  infielder  Southern Miss    Astros 

*Luke Hill.   3B   Ole Miss       Guardians

*Pico Kohn     P     Miss. State    Yankees

Round 7

Will McCausland    pitcher  Ole Miss    Guardians

Round 8        

Riley Maddox  P  Ole Miss     Nationals

Evan Siary    P      Miss. State      Rangers

Round 9

*Mason Nichols     pitcher      Ole Miss         Tampa Bay

*Karson Ligon      pitcher    Miss. State    Blue Jays

Round 10

*Hunter Hines   first base     Miss. State      Nationals

Round 11

*Jacob Johnson  pitcher   Pearl River CC    Rangers

*Luke Dotson     pitcher    Miss. State   Diamondbacks

Round 12

*Talon Haley   pitcher.  Lewisburg HS     Angels

*Connor Spencer   pitcher     Ole Miss   Cubs

Round 13

*Nate Williams    pitcher  Miss. State  Cubs

Round 15

*Jacob Pruitt     pitcher    Miss. State   Phillies

Round 17

*Patrick Galle   pitcher    Ole Miss    Red Sox

Round 18

*Brayden Jones   pitcher  Ole Miss    Rays

Round 19

*Jacob Parker     outfielder     Purvis HS    Diamondbacks

Round 20

*Sam Tookoian     pitcher    Ole Miss       Angels

*Jamaurion McQueen  outfielder    Brandon HS

Rangers.  

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