After 12 Major League seasons, Gerardo Parra has decided to retire, as reported by MASNsports.com’s Dan Kolko during today’s broadcast. Parra will move into a new role as a special assistant in the Nationals front office.
Parra (who celebrated his 35th birthday two days ago) had signed a minor league deal with the Nats in Spring Training, but opted against a Triple-A assignment after not making the Opening Day roster. He’ll now call it a career after 1519 MLB games spread over 12 seasons with the Diamondbacks, Brewers, Orioles, Rockies, Giants, and Nationals, plus 47 games with NPB’s Yomiuri Giants in 2020. For his big league career, Parra batted .275/.322/.403 with 90 home runs over 5290 plate appearances.
An international signing for the D’Backs in 2004, Parra played his first five-plus MLB seasons in Arizona, establishing himself as one of the game’s best defensive outfielders. Parra won two Gold Gloves and a Fielding Bible Award during his time with the D’Backs, and also showed some occasional pop at the plate.
This production (particularly against right-handed pitching) helped Parra keep getting chances after his glovework started to decline. He scored a three-year, $27.5MM free agent deal from Colorado prior to the 2016 season, and while his own performance didn’t quite live up to expectations, Parra at least helped the Rox reach the postseason in both 2017 and 2018.
After signing with the Giants in the 2018-19 offseason, Parra didn’t last long in San Francisco, and caught on with the Nationals in May 2019. That set the table for probably the most memorable moments of Parra’s career, as he quickly became a Washington fan favorite after adopting “Baby Shark” (his young daughter’s favorite song) as his walk-up music.
More importantly, Parra became a clubhouse leader for a Nats team that went onto win the World Series. While he only hit a modest .250/.300/.447 over 204 PA for Washington during the regular season, and then made only seven total PA during the playoffs, Parra’s leadership was widely credited as a key reason why the Nationals were able to turn their season around after an ugly start in the first two months. Parra played in Japan in 2020, and then made one final encore run with the Nats in 2021, playing what would end up being his final 53 Major League games.
We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Parra on a tremendous career, and we wish him all the best in his new front office role.
Rico Suave
Fun fact: Gerardo, the artist who sang “Rico Suave” was in the 80’s movie Can’t Buy Me Love. He played Ricky, one of the jocks.
Yeah, 99% of everyone thinks of that shark song when they hear that name. I’m showing my age but I think of that awesome early 90s song. Talk about a missed opportunity for a great walk up song.
I just watched that movie for the first time in a long time, and I know who you’re talking about, but I didn’t know that was the singer.
I gather no one else will come out to “Baby Shark.”
I hope they retire that stupid song too.
In November 2020, Pinkfong’s version became the most-viewed YouTube video of all time, with over 7 billion views.
They made $57 million in 2020. That is more than Max Scherzer in 2022, only $43,333,333
Wow, it’s the most watched video by a mile. Over 10 billion views, next closest is Despacito under 8 billion.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-viewed_YouTub…
Never again have to hear ‘Baby Shark’ when he walks up to the plate.
Have to or get to?
Doo doo doo doo!
As a Dodgers fan I hated him.. he would always be in the middle of breaking up a no no or getting timely hits. He never backed down and always played like it was his last at bat. Though I hated seeing him win a chip’ in 19, congratulations on a helluva career
Actually, he made an out in his last at-bat. (Versus Boston on October 3, 2021)
Grandpa Shark . . .doo doo doo doo
Hong Chi Kuo will be very happy.
Kudos on a great career from this Padres fan.
Very productive career. If I were the GM of an MLB team (which I should be) he would be on my team
He should never have to buy a drink or a meal in the DC area ever again. I remember wanting the Nats to sign him before he went to the Giants, but we nearly needed to be patient. Flags fly forever, and the 2019 flag certainly flies for you, Baby Shark.
Great person and a very good player
Parra was at the very center of that magical Nats’ run in ‘19. Those memories will last forever. What a finish: they won the last eight games of the regular season to clinch hosting the wild card game at home, came back to beat Hader and the Brewers in the wild card, beat the Dodgers in five memorable games, highlighted by Howie’s grand slam, swept the Cardinals to win the pennant and beat the cheaters in seven. Thanks Gerardo! Nats Park was electric when you came to bat!
I remember a grand slam he hit against the Dodgers in 19 during the regular season. The Dodgers were stunned. I also remember him cheering a Kendrick homer against the Dodgers. Great guy.
Nationals legend. Sad to see him retire, but it was time. Excited to see him stay with the team. Thanks for championship and best wishes.
My buddy and I randomly attended a dbacks game way back, turned out to be Parra’s debut. They announced him, my friend and I were like ‘Who?’ Then he hit a dinger in his first AB. Have been a fan of the man ever since.
A key example of how the stats don’t always tell the whole story. WAR says he was worth half a win for Washington in 2019. Bunk. The Nationals do NOT win the World Series without Parra. Heck, they probably wouldn’t have even made the playoffs in 2019 without him.
Totally agree. Like you said, it’s hard to quantify, but anyone who watched the Nationals that year, knows the effect he had on the team.
He had a 1.117 OPS with RISP and 1.079 OPS in high leverage situations. Dude was the perfect clutch bench bat for them.
Congratulations on a really good career, Mr. Parra. I wish you much success in all your future endeavors.
While he’s by no means part of the longest MLB transaction trees/webs, he is part of one going back 20 years now that started with the Brewers drafting Prince Fielder.
Not to be mean but who ?
There’s a neat new tool called Google. Give it a try…
Ok I will
That’s the best picture you can come up with? Its like he’s doing shadow puppets of an eagle in front of a projector.
He was always one of my favorite pickups in mlb 2013. Good defense with solid contact from the left side
The Kole Calhoun of his time. If you watch them, they act as if they are perennial all-stars with limitless swag when they are both pretty much roster fillers.
My warmest memory of the Gerado was how he and Anibal Sanchez would gang hug Strasburg, who (like me) was not a hugger. There’s a famous photo of a three-way hug between them in the dugout during the playoff run.
The Nats have a made it part of their display of memorabilia from the World Series in the FIS Champions Club suite.
Helped rhevRockies to 2 playoff appearances while he was there. Good career, not HOF bound but a solid player.
Really helped the Dbacks , pesky hitter and fine outfielder. Nice career !!
I remember being stunned when the D-Backs traded Gerardo, our newly minted Gold Glover, to the Brewers. I’m very glad he was one of the several former Diamondbacks Mike Rizzo later brought to the Nationals to help win a World Series title. I have never seen a more powerful arm in left field – no one took an extra base against Mr. Parra!
Buena suerte compadre ! Fuiste excelente ejemplo como persona y pelotero. Memorable pasantía con Washington – lo disfrute ! Let’s GO NATS.
Congratulations on a great career GP. I remember him going out of his way to walk over to my 9 year old (at the time) son (who is now 22 with a giant beard) and sign a ball or hat for him..kids 1st autograph…shortly after being called up inAZ. Had a hose for an arm. Always enjoyed his play.
As a Brewers fan I’d like to congratulate him on his career and wish him well in retirement.
Always enjoyed watching Parra play as both an opponent and on “my teams” active roster. Best of luck to him in his next chapter. May it be filled with happiness & success
Still stunned that the Padres haven’t signed him.
I will never forget when in MLB 10 The Show the Royals benched me after a 30-homer season in favor of Gerardo Parra. He had that spot for the rest of the season.
.308 BA in Spring and doesn’t make the roster? Shame. Congrats on the ring and a nice career!