Over the offseason, World Series Champion and former Nationals outfielder, Gerardo Parra, signed with the Yomiuri Giants – a professional baseball team based in Tokyo, Japan. The Giants play in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.
Friday, the Giants finally played their first game of the 2020 NPB season after the coronavirus pandemic delayed its start for nearly three months (March 20).
Despite no fans being in the ballpark, the Giants still played players’ walkup songs. And when Parra (number 88) came up to the plate, “Baby Shark” blared over the Tokyo Dome loudspeakers.
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The “Baby Shark” crossover to Japan! @88_gparra’s first at bat with the Yomiuri Giants pic.twitter.com/SC5oLYBCw3
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) June 19, 2020
The feels.
Here’s another look.
Parra would later get his first hit with the team, beating out a throw for an infield single. On the day, Parra went one for three while drawing a walk.
In the locker room after the game, Parra posed with the ball he got his first hit with, commenting, “🦈🙏the first of many🇯🇵🦈”
During his meeting with the media after signing with Yomiuri, the former Nat showed off specially-made Parra Shark mitts.
After winning the World Series, Parra had the Commissioner’s Trophy and Baby Shark tattooed on his forearm.
Parra is also sporting a new gold and brown glove in Japan, which appears to be a play off his two MLB gold gloves (2011 & 2013) and his new team’s color scheme.
Headline photo: Ian Oland/RMNB
