Gerardo Enrique Parra (born May 6, 1987) is a Venezuelan former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professiona ...
outfielder
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to cat ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...
(MLB) for the
Arizona Diamondbacks,
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
,
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
,
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fi ...
,
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yo ...
and
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
, as well for the
Yomiuri Giants
The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They ...
of
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
(NPB). Parra is a two-time
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as simply the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in bo ...
winner. He was on the Nationals when they won the
2019 World Series.
Career
Arizona Diamondbacks
On May 13, 2009, he was called up from AA (Double A)
Mobile BayBears when
left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder, abbreviated LF, is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound. In the numbering sys ...
Conor Jackson was placed on the
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
. 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.
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.
In 2011, Parra broke out batting .292 with 8
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s and 46
runs batted in
A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the b ...
. 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.
After an outstanding season defensively Parra was awarded the 2011 National League Left Fielder
Gold Glove award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as simply the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in bo ...
on November 1, 2011.
In an 18-inning game on 24–25 August 2013 at the Philadelphia Phillies, Parra collected a career-high five
hits
Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block
* ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998
* ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album s ...
. The teams drew a combined 28
bases on balls
A base on balls (BB), also known as a walk, occurs in baseball when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls '' balls'', and is in turn awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. The base on balls is defined in Sec ...
, 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.
Milwaukee Brewers
On July 31, 2014, the Diamondbacks traded Parra to the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
in exchange for minor leaguers
Mitch Haniger
Mitchell Evan Haniger (born December 23, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.
A col ...
and
Anthony Banda. Parra hit between Arizona and Milwaukee .261 with 9 home runs and 40 RBI's.
Baltimore Orioles
On July 31, 2015, he was traded to the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
for
Zach Davies. After a slow start with the O's, Parra tied a career-high in hits with five on August 16 in an 18–2 victory over the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The t ...
. The five hits were the most hits he had collected in a nine-inning game.
Colorado Rockies
On January 19, 2016, Parra signed a three-year contract with the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fi ...
. 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 bounced back the following season, hitting career highs in average (.309) and RBIs (71).
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.
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.
San Francisco Giants
On February 12, 2019, Parra signed a minor league deal with the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yo ...
that included an invitation to
spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives estab ...
. In 30 major league games for the Giants, he batted .198/.278/.267.
He was
designated for assignment on May 3, 2019.
Washington Nationals
On May 9, 2019, Parra signed a one-year major league contract with the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
. His first hit with the team was a go-ahead grand slam in a May 11 game against the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League West, West division. Established in 1883 i ...
.
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.
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.
The 25 career pitches thrown by Parra are the most without retiring a batter since at least 2000.
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.
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. 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
The 2019 National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven series between the two winners of the 2019 National League Division Series, the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals, for the National League (NL) pennant and the right ...
, and then again when Parra was called up to pinch-hit in Games 3, 4, and 5 of the
2019 World Series vs. the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after s ...
. The Nationals won the World Series in 7 games, their first in franchise history.
Yomiuri Giants
On November 20, 2019, Parra signed a one-year contract with the
Yomiuri Giants
The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They ...
of
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
. 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.
Washington Nationals (second stint)
On February 3, 2021, Parra signed a minor league deal to return to the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
. He was assigned to the Triple-A
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Field, located in downt ...
to begin the season. On June 20, Parra was selected to the active roster. On March 13, 2022, Parra resigned a minor league deal with the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
. Parra retired on May 8, 2022, and took a front office job with the Nationals.
[Washington Post]
/ref>
See also
*
* List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parra, Gerardo
1987 births
Living people
Águilas del Zulia players
Albuquerque Isotopes players
Arizona Diamondbacks players
Baltimore Orioles players
Colorado Rockies players
Gold Glove Award winners
Hartford Yard Goats players
Leones del Caracas players
Major League Baseball first basemen
Major League Baseball outfielders
Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
Milwaukee Brewers players
Missoula Osprey players
Mobile BayBears players
Nippon Professional Baseball outfielders
People from Zulia
Reno Aces players
Rochester Red Wings players
San Francisco Giants players
South Bend Silver Hawks players
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Japan
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States
Visalia Oaks players
Washington Nationals players
World Baseball Classic players of Venezuela
Yomiuri Giants players
2009 World Baseball Classic players
2013 World Baseball Classic players