Gerardo Parra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gerardo Parra |
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Parra at the White House in 2019
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| Washington Nationals – No. 88 | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 6, 1987 Santa Barbara del Zulia, Venezuela |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: May 13, 2009, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |||
| NPB: June 19, 2020, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| NPB: 2020 | |||
| MLB: October 3, 2021, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .275 | ||
| Home runs | 90 | ||
| Runs batted in | 532 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .267 | ||
| Home runs | 4 | ||
| Runs batted in | 13 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Gerardo Enrique Parra was born on May 6, 1987, in Santa Barbara del Zulia, Venezuela. He is a former professional baseball player who played as an outfielder. He is now a coach for the Washington Nationals.
Parra played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Washington Nationals. He also played for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. Gerardo Parra is known for winning two Gold Glove Awards for his excellent defense. He also helped the Washington Nationals win the 2019 World Series.
Playing Career Highlights
Gerardo Parra had an exciting career playing for many different baseball teams. Let's look at some of his most memorable moments.
Starting with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Gerardo Parra joined the Arizona Diamondbacks in the major leagues on May 13, 2009. In his very first time at bat, he hit a home run! This made him one of only 100 players in MLB history to do so.
He started his career strong, getting at least one RBI in his first five games. This was a rare achievement! Because of his great start, he was named the National League Rookie of the Month for May 2009.
In 2011, Parra had a fantastic year. He batted .292, which means he got a hit nearly 30% of the time. He also hit 8 home runs and had 46 RBIs. His strong throwing arm in the outfield was also a big help to his team.
Winning Gold Gloves
After his amazing defensive play in 2011, Parra won his first Gold Glove Award as a left fielder. This award recognizes the best defensive players in baseball. He won his second Gold Glove Award in 2013.
In a very long 18-inning game in 2013, Parra got five hits, which was his personal best. This game lasted over seven hours, making it one of the longest in baseball history for both teams.
Playing for Other Teams
After his time with the Diamondbacks, Parra played for several other teams.
Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles
In 2014, Parra was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He continued to play well, hitting .261 with 9 home runs. In 2015, he was traded again, this time to the Baltimore Orioles. With the Orioles, he tied his personal best by getting five hits in one game.
Colorado Rockies
In 2016, Parra signed a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. He had a great season in 2017, hitting for a high batting average of .309 and getting 71 RBIs.
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After the 2018 season, the Rockies decided not to keep Parra for 2019, making him a free agent.
San Francisco Giants
In early 2019, Parra joined the San Francisco Giants. He played 30 games for them before moving to another team.
Joining the Washington Nationals
On May 9, 2019, Parra signed with the Washington Nationals. Just two days later, he hit a grand slam, which is a home run with all bases loaded, giving his new team the lead!
The "Baby Shark" Phenomenon
During his time with the Nationals, Parra's children suggested he use the popular children's song "Baby Shark" as his walk-up music. This means the song would play when he came up to bat. It quickly became a huge hit with the fans! People at Nationals Park would sing along and do the "shark dance" whenever Parra was at bat.
This "Baby Shark" craze became a big part of the Nationals' amazing run in 2019. Fans continued to do the shark dance even during the 2019 National League Championship Series and the 2019 World Series. The Nationals went on to win the World Series in 7 games, which was their first championship ever!
Playing in Japan
After winning the World Series, Parra signed a one-year contract to play for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. He played 47 games there, hitting 4 home runs.
Second Time with the Nationals
In 2021, Parra returned to the Washington Nationals on a minor league deal. He was later called up to play for the main team. He officially retired from playing professional baseball on May 8, 2022.
Life After Playing Baseball
After retiring as a player, Gerardo Parra took a job in the front office of the Washington Nationals. This means he works behind the scenes for the team.
In 2023, the Nationals named Parra their first base coach. As a coach, he helps players on the field, especially when they are running the bases.
See also
In Spanish: Gerardo Parra para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
