Catching Up With Erik Parker

Born to be a Bulldog, freshman infielder Erik Parker will play his first season for Georgia this spring after a stellar career at North Gwinnett High School.

A 6-3, 181-pound native of Suwanee, Ga., Parker opted to attend Georgia after he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft this past July. Parker, one of the nation's top-rated shortstops, batted .333 with a .544 on-base percentage, a 1.132 OPS, four home runs and a school record 28 stolen bases as a senior.

Parker said he now looks forward to developing as a player under Ike Cousins head baseball coach Wes Johnson and his staff.

When and why did you start playing baseball?
"I started playing baseball when I was around the age of three or four. I started playing it because I thought it was a challenging sport, and I liked the competition."

When did you realize that you had a chance to pursue baseball at the professional level?
"I would probably say going into my junior year of high school. I believed that I had an opportunity to play pro ball after going through the summer I had with my team and playing at a high level and dominating and competing at the high level. It gave me a lot of confidence that I could compete at the next level."

What was the moment like when the phone call came during the MLB Draft?
"It was a surreal moment. It's a moment every kid dreams of growing up. It was a very proud moment and an emotional moment for my family."

What made you forego your selection in the 2024 MLB Draft and start your collegiate career at Georgia?
"I just believed that I could get better and develop at Georgia with Wes [Johnson], [Will] Coggin, [Nick Ammirati] and all the coaches to make me a higher value in the next three years to have a better chance of going higher in the draft. I thought that was a good opportunity for me to stay here."

How have your first few months in Athens been as a member of the UGA baseball team?
"It's been fun getting to be around the guys, getting to know a group of guys I never knew before. It's been fun getting to know the coaches, playing with the team and just being around the town. It's pretty fun."

How has the team meshed so far?
"My roommates, Nate Taylor and Bryce Clavon, we've all been tight for a while. I've known Bryce since I was six or seven, so it's cool to go to college with your best friend, so that's awesome. The other guys that I've met, the older guys, they're really cool. They've just helped me transition from high school to college and getting me in the feel of things, so that's really a good thing."

Is there a professional baseball player that you look up to or mold your game after?
"Many people think of me as a Carlos Correa or Tim Anderson. I just look at their game and put it in perspective. I try to model my game and be as good as them."

Is there a memory that stands out to you as your coolest or most fun in baseball?
"I would probably say winning region with my high school team. It was a while before we won it, so just getting the opportunity to help them get back on track. I think that got them in the right mindset, younger guys are stepping up now. It was surreal to get to that moment."

What was your experience like with the Prospect Development Pipeline League at the USA Baseball Development Complex before your senior year of high school?
"It was a fun environment to be around all the top players in the nation in my class and getting to be around pro coaches and pro guys that played before. It was fun to learn from everybody."

What are some of your favorite things to do when you're not playing baseball?
"I like to golf a lot. I go golfing when I have enough time. Or I just hang at the crib, watch some movies with my teammates and play the game. Something calm."

(Profile written by Brigette Ramirez, Georgia Sports Communications)

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