Manny Parra
Encyclopedia
Manuel Alex "Manny" Parra (born October 30, 1982, in Carmichael, California
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Milwaukee Brewers
.
in 2000, and American River College
in 2002. While playing in high school, he also played first base. He was named the National Junior College
Player of the Year in 2002 by Baseball America
.
against the Round Rock Express
while playing for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
. This was only the third nine-inning perfect game in Pacific Coast League
history; one of the other two was thrown by John Wasdin
, also of the Sounds.
Parra made his major league debut on July 20, 2007 against the San Francisco Giants
. He was a closing pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
. Parra became a starting pitcher
for the Brewers, and earned his first major league win on April 5, 2008 against the San Francisco Giants
.
and wasting fewer pitches on balls.
At the conclusion of the season, Parra had a 10-8 record. His 17 wild pitches tied for the most in the majors.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-basesituation-pitching.shtml His split-finger fastball
was the most effective among major league starting pitchers.http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=7&season=2008&month=0
On June 6, 2010, Parra became the 52nd Major League pitcher to strike out four batters in an inning. He did so against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Carmichael, California
Carmichael is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 61,762 at the 2010 census, up from 49,742 at the 2000 census.-Geography and geology:Carmichael...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Early life
Parra graduated from Casa Roble High SchoolCasa Roble High School
Casa Roble Fundamental High School is a public high school located in Orangevale, California. It is a part of the San Juan Unified School District with a student body of approximately 1700 students.- Academic Curriculum :...
in 2000, and American River College
American River College
American River College is a California community college located in the southern edge of unincorporated Foothill Farms in Sacramento County, California....
in 2002. While playing in high school, he also played first base. He was named the National Junior College
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
Player of the Year in 2002 by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
Baseball career
On June 25, 2007, Parra pitched a perfect gamePerfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
against the Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
while playing for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
. This was only the third nine-inning perfect game in Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
history; one of the other two was thrown by John Wasdin
John Wasdin
John Truman Wasdin is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. He was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia and raised in Tallahassee, Florida....
, also of the Sounds.
Parra made his major league debut on July 20, 2007 against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He was a closing pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Parra became a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Brewers, and earned his first major league win on April 5, 2008 against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
2008 season
In April, he posted a 1–1 record. However, through May and June, Parra posted a 7–1 record including a 6-game win streak. As the season wore on, Parra was capable of pitching deeper into games because of a decreased pitch countPitch count
In baseball statistics, pitch count is the number of pitches thrown by a pitcher in a game.Pitch counts are especially a concern for young pitchers, pitchers recovering from injury, or pitchers who have a history of injuries. The pitcher wants to keep the pitch count low because of his stamina...
and wasting fewer pitches on balls.
At the conclusion of the season, Parra had a 10-8 record. His 17 wild pitches tied for the most in the majors.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-basesituation-pitching.shtml His split-finger fastball
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
was the most effective among major league starting pitchers.http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=7&season=2008&month=0
2009 season
Parra struggled throughout 2009 and was demoted to Triple-A. He finished the year with a record of 11-11 and an ERA of 6.36.2010 season
Despite a relatively strong Spring Training, Parra failed to make the Brewers starting rotation at the start of the season. He was placed in the bullpen, where he has seen a 4-5 MPH increase in the velocity of his fastball (which he now throws consistently in the 94-95 MPH range), a rarity for a left-hander.On June 6, 2010, Parra became the 52nd Major League pitcher to strike out four batters in an inning. He did so against the St. Louis Cardinals.