Dakota Jordan ‘ready to work’ for Mississippi State baseball
JACKSON, Miss. (BVM) — Following a breakout senior season, Dakota Jordan was awarded the 2021-22 Gatorade Mississippi Baseball Player of the Year. Jordan is the third athlete from Jackson Academy to be named a Gatorade Player of the Year this year. As the summer months quickly close, Jordan is adamantly preparing for his future on the baseball field.
“Dakota Jordan is definitely a difference-maker as a player,” Madison-Ridgeland Academy head baseball coach Allen Pavatte said in a Gatorade press release. I would put him among the top 10 high school players I have ever seen play. He’s a powerful hitter and an all-around talent who can play at the next level. He has some of the quickest hands I’ve seen, and he’s a powerful hitter.”
The 6-foot, 205-pound Jordan is currently ranked as Mississippi’s No. 2 baseball recruit according to Perfect Game. He’s also ranked No. 176 on MLB.com’s best MLB prospects list and is committed to Mississippi State.
With these rankings and awards, Jordan has shown he is capable of a successful baseball career. But the top prospect almost didn’t pursue the sport he excels at today.
“I was about 5 or 6 playing in the backyard,” Jordan said. “And my mom didn’t know I could play baseball. I just told her, ‘Come out and watch me.’ I was hitting the ball pretty hard [one day], and a coach came up to my mom and told her, ‘You need to get your son into baseball.’ And she finally gave in, and here I am now.”
But he’s put himself on notice and has accomplished so much in his high school career, especially in his senior season. During his final season with JA, he hit 16 home runs and had a .524 batting average. Both of these were JA records broken by Jordan. He also broke JA’s hit and on-base percentage (OBP) records.
Played my last high school baseball game yesterday.
New JA School records:
— 16 HRs (T-2 in nation)
— 57 RBIs
— .524 Average
— .635 OBP
— 1.181 SLG% pic.twitter.com/6Abonvqwf2— Dakota Jordan ⁴² (@Kota_1k) May 12, 2022
Along with setting new records at JA, Jordan brought home the coveted Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year award. In fact, when he won the award, he wasn’t even the first to know about it.
“I was on a beach trip with my friends,” Jordan said. “It was 11:30 in the morning, and I got a call from my friend Olivia Quin. She saw that I had won and she called and woke me up. Once she told me [I won], I woke up the whole house.”
Blessed & honored to be Mississippi’s @Gatorade Player of the Year! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/uLW8SPlS4y
— Dakota Jordan ⁴² (@Kota_1k) June 4, 2022
While excelling on the diamond, Jordan’s impact was also felt in other sports such as football, basketball and track.
Last Two Touchdowns in a Raider uniform pic.twitter.com/BIvTiJ7aaF
— Dakota Jordan ⁴² (@Kota_1k) November 17, 2021
Jordan’s most significant impact comes when he’s on the diamond. And when Jordan wants to make an impact, he can. He just needs the motivation. And Jordan always carries the necessary motivation to achieve greatness.
“I remember I didn’t get nominated for the Dandy Dozen,” Jordan said. “I went on Twitter and basically said, ‘There’s no way,’ and with a bunch of emojis. There were a lot of comments, a lot of negative comments, telling me just shut up and play or crying over awards. That definitely motivated me and put some fuel in me. Now it’s quiet.”
Now Jordan has proved he can shine athletically. But when he’s off the field, he’s just as good as a person. And JA has helped him realize that he can be both.
“If I’m being honest, if I could do it all over again, I would,” Jordan said. “I love everything about Jackson Academy. They took care of my family and me. They showed me so much love. I love this school with everything in me.”
However, Jordan has begun to focus on his future career at Mississippi State. He knows there is still tons of work to do, but he has the right mindset that any athlete has when competing for starting spot.
“Come in and compete and have fun and enjoy the game,” Jordan said, talking about his goals for Mississippi State. “Of course, I would love to be their starting centerfield, but [I know] there’s going to be competition, and I’m ready to work.”
Jordan has proved time and time again he is an incredible athlete. What will his future at Mississippi State bring has yet to be seen. But Bulldog fans should expect a hard worker and a player who likes to have fun playing baseball.
“On the field, you’re going to get [an] electric, competitive guy,” Jordan said. “I will have fun, dance on the field, and I will interact with the fans, and I will do whatever to get the crowd going. And at the same time, enjoy playing the game of baseball.”
JA has given me friendships and memories that will last a lifetime and for that, I will forever be thankful. Thank You JA baseball for literally everything!
– 42 💙 pic.twitter.com/GR6ey98Fwy
— Dakota Jordan ⁴² (@Kota_1k) May 12, 2022
