Last week Dan Kolko reported Washington Nationals outfielder Gerardo Parra was retiring and moving into the Nationals front office. On Monday, Parra made the news official in an Instagram Post.
“After giving my everything for 16 years as a baseball player in the United States and Japan, it’s time to step aside to take on new professional and personal challenges, which is why I decided to retire from Major League Baseball,” Parra wrote.
Parra played for six MLB teams. He spent six seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the club where he made his MLB debut in 2009. But, the later portion of his career is what he is most known for. After being released by the San Francisco Giants in 2019, Parra signed with the Nationals.
Over the course of time that season, he became a fan favorite after he introduced “Baby Shark” into his walk-up music, looking for a spark. That spark trickled through the club and despite having a 19-31 record near the end of May, the Nationals went on a magical ride to win the World Series that season.
Parra hit .250/.300/.447 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 89 games. Meanwhile, he provided joyous moments within Nationals Park with fans singing along to “Baby Shark” as he walked up to the plate.
“Of course, I also have to thank the Washington Nationals and their fans for allowing me to be part of an organization that marked a before and after point in my career,” Parra continued on the IG Post. “You made me a part of a great family who historically achieved the first World Series Championship for the club in that unforgettable 2019.”
Parra played the 2020 season with the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He signed a minor league contract with the Nationals in 2021 and was called up in June and appeared in 53 games.
He returned to the Nationals on another minor league deal this Spring. But after not making the Opening Day roster, Parra decided to hang up the cleats for good.
Now he will serve as a special assistant to the Nats general manager Mike Rizzo.
