Field Level Media
17 May 2022, 02:49 GMT+10
Veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra, who became a fan favorite with the Washington Nationals on their 2019 World Series run, announced Monday that he has retired after 12 major league seasons and will join Washington's front office.
"After giving my everything for 16 years as a baseball player in the United States and Japan, it's time to step aside and take on new professional and personal challenges, which is why I decided to retire from Major League Baseball," Parra wrote on Instagram. "It's not an easy decision to make for any athlete, but I am happy with what I have achieved in these 12 years in the Major Leagues and even a great experience in the Nippon Professional Baseball."
Parra will begin working as a special assistant to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, which Parra called "undoubtedly a dream job to start a new chapter."
Parra played for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2009-2014), Milwaukee Brewers (2014-15), Baltimore Orioles (2015), Colorado Rockies (2016-18), San Francisco Giants (2019) and Nationals (2019, 2021).
The left-handed hitter and thrower from Venezuela won Gold Glove awards in 2011 and 2013 and batted .275 for his career. He also gained notoriety after joining the Nationals midway through the 2019 regular season, when he chose the children's song "Baby Shark" as his walk-up music.
"I wanted to put on something different," Parra said at the time. "My (then-2-year-old daughter) loves that song. Before the game, I tried merengue, reggaeton, hip-hop, then I said, 'You know what, I want to put in Baby Shark.' I'm happy for that."
Parra hit eight home runs and 42 RBIs while batting .250 in 89 games for the Nationals that season and won his only World Series ring. He played in Japan in 2020 and came back to the Nationals for 53 games in 2021.
He finished his career with 90 home runs, 532 RBIs and 633 runs scored.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of South America Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to South America Times.
More InformationLONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: After months of warnings from former federal officials and weather experts, the deadly flash floods that struck the...
MOSCOW, Russia: Just hours after his sudden dismissal by President Vladimir Putin, Russia's former transport minister, Roman Starovoit,...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Ahead of his 100th Test of his career, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc said it's quite funny that...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Indian stock markets opened under pressure on Friday as continued tariff tensions led by US President...
Representatives of women's organizations and networks that were part of the first delegation of gender experts at the talks in Havana...
The 17th BRICS summit was more than a photo op. It was a coordinated rejection of Western power and a declaration of intent A few...
The 17th BRICS summit was more than a photo op. It was a coordinated rejection of Western power and a declaration of intent A few...
President Lula da Silva has pushed back, vowing reciprocal action and defending the countrys court system US President Donald Trump...