Goodbye, "Baby Shark."
Gerardo Parra, the Nationals backup outfielder who used the annoying/catchy children's tune as his walk-up song last season and created a phenomenon at Nationals Park, is headed to Japan to play for the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball league, according to ESPN.
Parra, who was a free agent, will make $2 million this season plus a $500,000 bonus, a source told The Washington Post. The deal also has a $3 million vesting option for 2021, the Post reported.
MORE: The Nationals' obsession with 'Baby Shark,' explained
Parra, 32, slashed .234/.293/.391 last season in 119 games with the Giants and Nationals, but his biggest contribution was easily his introduction of the popular children's anthem during games in Washington. While stuck in an 0-for-22 slump in June, he decided to switch things up, and he looked to his young daughter for inspiration.
"I wanted to put on something different,” Parra said (via NBC Sports Washington). "My [2-year-old daughter Aaliyah Victoria] 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 finished the day game 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, and, given the superstitions of baseball players, "Baby Shark" official became a thing at Nationals Park.
By the time the Nats reached the playoffs, the song and associated clapping had grown into a Full-Fledged Happening and rallying cry, with the home crowds chirping along enthusiastically. Things only intensified during the World Series, as the Nationals beat the Astros in seven games, despite being swept in their three home games.
This is what it looks like when 43,867 people do "Baby Shark" at the #WorldSeries.@88_gparra // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/yT8el4GgUc
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 26, 2019
One would assume that Parra will take the song with him to the Land of the Rising Sun, but it seems unlikely that the Nationals will continue to embrace the "Baby Shark" tradition in 2020, given its association with the departing outfielder. But then, they've spent money on it, slapped it on merchandise and kinda made it part of their championship identity, so don't be surprised to see it stick around for a least a little while.
