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Gerardo Parra

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Gerardo Parra
Parra at the White House in 2019
Washington Nationals – No. 88
Outfielder
Born: (1987-05-06) May 6, 1987 (age 37)
Santa Barbara del Zulia, Venezuela
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: May 13, 2009, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
NPB: June 19, 2020, for the Yomiuri Giants
Last appearance
NPB: 2020, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB: October 3, 2021, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
Batting average.275
Home runs90
Runs batted in532
NPB statistics
Batting average.267
Home runs4
Runs batted in13
Teams
As player

As coach

Career highlights and awards

Gerardo Enrique Parra (born May 6, 1987) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder and current first base coach for the Washington Nationals. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals, as well for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Parra is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and won the 2019 World Series as a member of the Nationals.

Career

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Arizona Diamondbacks

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On May 13, 2009, the Diamondbacks promoted Parra to the major leagues from the Double A Mobile BayBears when left fielder Conor Jackson was placed on the disabled list.[1] He was inserted into the starting lineup the same day, and in his first Major League at bat he became the 100th player in MLB history to hit a home run in his first at bat.[2]

Parra with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011

In his first five games he had at least one RBI, becoming the second player since Mike Lansing (1993) in the last 30 years to accomplish this feat. Parra was named NL Rookie of the Month for May and reached base in each of his first 17 games.[3]

In 2011, Parra broke out batting .292 with 8 home runs and 46 runs batted in. Not only did he do well offensively, he also established himself as a threat with his powerful throwing arm, throwing out runners on various occasions. He was a very underrated player in 2011 as he was a key ingredient in leading the Diamondbacks turnaround.[4]

After an outstanding season defensively Parra was awarded the 2011 National League Left Fielder Gold Glove award on November 1, 2011.[5]

In an 18-inning game on August 24–25, 2013 at the Philadelphia Phillies, Parra collected a career-high five hits. The teams drew a combined 28 bases on balls, a National League record. The Diamondbacks' 18 walks tied the National League mark. The game lasted seven hours and six minutes, the longest in franchise history for both clubs.[6][7] Parra won his second career Gold Glove Award following the 2013 season.[8]

Milwaukee Brewers

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On July 31, 2014, the Diamondbacks traded Parra to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor leaguers Mitch Haniger and Anthony Banda.[9] Parra hit between Arizona and Milwaukee .261 with 9 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Parra entered the 2015 season as Milwaukee's fourth outfielder.[10]

Baltimore Orioles

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Parra with the Orioles in 2015

On July 31, 2015, the Brewers traded Parra to the Baltimore Orioles for Zach Davies.[11] After a slow start with the Orioles, Parra tied a career-high in hits with five on August 16 in an 18–2 victory over the Oakland Athletics.[12]

Colorado Rockies

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On January 19, 2016, Parra signed a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies.[13] In his first season as a Rockie, he spent time on the disabled list. He played in 102 games, hitting just .253/.271/.399 with a strikeout to walk ratio of 73/9. He had career highs in average (.309) and RBIs (71) the following season.

On April 13, 2018, Parra was suspended for four games due to his involvement in a brawl that occurred with the Padres two days prior. He ended his three-year contract hitting .284/.342/.372 with 6 home runs and 53 runs batted in.

Parra with the Rockies in 2018

On October 30, 2018, the Rockies declined the 2019 option on Parra's contract, instead paying him a $1.5 million buyout and making him a free agent.[14]

San Francisco Giants

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On February 12, 2019, Parra signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants that included an invitation to spring training.[15] In 30 major league games for the Giants, he batted .198/.278/.267.[16] He was designated for assignment on May 3, 2019.

Washington Nationals

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On May 9, 2019, Parra signed a one-year major league contract with the Washington Nationals.[17][18] His first hit with the team was a go-ahead grand slam in a May 11 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[19]

In a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 3, Parra was called upon to pitch in the 8th inning with the Nationals trailing 11–4.[20] He gave up 5 runs on 1 hit and 4 walks before being replaced by another position player, Brian Dozier, and the Nationals eventually lost 18–7.[20] The 25 career pitches thrown by Parra are the most without retiring a batter since at least 2000.[21]

In 2019 with the Nationals he batted .250/.300/.447. Between the Giants and the Nationals combined, in 2019 he batted .234/.293/.391 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 274 at bats.[16] During his time with the Nationals, at the suggestion of his children, Parra changed his walk-up music to the popular children's song "Baby Shark". This became a crowd favorite throughout the second half of 2019, as crowds at Nationals Park began to sing along and do the accompanying motions whenever Parra came up to bat.[22] Fans throughout the stadium were seen doing the "shark dance" when Parra was called up to bat in Game 4 of the 2019 National League Championship Series,[23] and then again when Parra was called up to pinch-hit in Games 3,[24][25] 4, and 5 of the 2019 World Series vs. the Houston Astros. The Nationals won the World Series in 7 games, their first in franchise history.[26]

Yomiuri Giants

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On November 20, 2019, Parra signed a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.[27][28] In 47 games with Yomiuri, Parra slashed .267/.305/.384 with 4 home runs and 13 RBI.

On December 2, 2020, he became a free agent.[29]

Washington Nationals (second stint)

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On February 3, 2021, Parra signed a minor league deal to return to the Nationals.[30] He was assigned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings to begin the season. On June 20, Parra was selected to the active roster.[31]

On March 13, 2022, Parra re-signed with the Nationals on a minor league deal.[32] He was released by the Nationals organization on May 1 without appearing in a major league game.[33]

Post-playing career

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Parra retired from professional baseball on May 8, 2022, and took a front office job with the Nationals.[34][35]

After the 2023 season, the Nationals named Parra their first base coach.[36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schlegel, John (May 13, 2009). "Shorthanded D-backs call up outfield help". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  2. ^ Singer, Tom (May 13, 2009). "Parra goes deep in first career at-bat". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  3. ^ Rubin, Adam. "espn.com". Espn.go.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  4. ^ "Gerardo Parra - Washington Nationals Center Fielder". ESPN.
  5. ^ "Dodgers, Red Sox trios lead Gold Glove winners". ESPN.com. November 2, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "D-backs outlast Phillies in game lasting over 7 hours". ESPN. August 25, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "D-backs win longest game in franchise history". mlb.com. August 25, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  8. ^ Sports, Arizona (October 29, 2013). "Arizona Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra and Paul Goldschmidt win Gold Glove Awards". Arizona Sports.
  9. ^ "Arizona Diamondbacks trade Gerardo Parra to Milwaukee Brewers for prospects Mitch Haniger and Anthony Banda". Arizona Sports. July 31, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  10. ^ "Gerardo Parra sports golden attitude". www.jsonline.com.
  11. ^ Todd, Jeff (July 31, 2015). "Orioles Acquire Gerardo Parra". mlb traderumors. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  12. ^ "Orioles 18, Athletics 2". The Charlotte Observer. August 17, 2015. p. B4.
  13. ^ Harding, Thomas (January 19, 2016). "Parra officially a Rockie, thrilled to play at Coors". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  14. ^ "Rockies decline $12.5M option on outfielder Gerardo Parra". Fox Sports. October 30, 2018.
  15. ^ Adams, Steve (February 12, 2019). "Giants, Gerardo Parra Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Gerardo Parra Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  17. ^ "Nationals agree to terms with Gerardo Parra". mlblogs.com. Nationals Communications. May 9, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  18. ^ Dougherty, Jesse (May 9, 2019). "Nationals sign outfielder Gerardo Parra to 1-year deal". Washington Post. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Dougherty, Jesse (May 11, 2019). "New arrival Gerardo Parra's grand slam lifts Nationals over Dodgers". Washington Post. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Washington Nationals at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, August 3, 2019". Baseball Reference. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  21. ^ "Pitching Season & Career Finder: Spanning Multiple Seasons or entire Careers, From 1871 to 2020, (requiring Pit>=1 and IP=0.0), Stats only available back to 2000, sorted by greatest Pit". Stathead. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  22. ^ Shaikin, Bill (October 5, 2019). "Nationals' Gerardo Parra starts stadium craze with 'Baby Shark' song". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  23. ^ "Nationals Gerardo Parra Baby Shark walk-up - NLCS Game 4 (video)". youtube.com. YouTube. October 17, 2019. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  24. ^ "Baby Shark takes World Series Game 3 by storm". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  25. ^ Anderson, R.J. (October 26, 2019). "World Series: Fueled by 'Baby Shark', Gerardo Parra has become surprising key in Nationals' postseason run". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  26. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (October 31, 2019). "Washington Nationals win 2019 World Series". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  27. ^ "Gerardo Parra agrees to deal with Yomiuri Giants". MLB.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  28. ^ "パーラ外野手と契約合意". 読売巨人軍公式サイト (in Japanese). November 20, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  29. ^ "2020年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  30. ^ Byrne, Connor (February 3, 2021). "Nationals sign Gerardo Parra to minor league contract". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  31. ^ Polishuk, Mark (June 20, 2021). "Nationals Select Gerardo Parra, Designate Ben Braymer". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  32. ^ "Washington Nationals announce 2022 non-roster invitees". MLB.com. March 14, 2022.
  33. ^ "Gerardo Parra Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  34. ^ Leckie, Paige (May 16, 2022). "Retired shark: Parra hangs 'em up". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  35. ^ "Gerardo Parra says he is retiring as player, becoming Washington Nationals assistant". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  36. ^ "Ex-Nat Parra hired as team's new first-base coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 10, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
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