Obviously he still has some time left, but at the moment it looks like 2007 might end up being the best year of Manny Parra's professional career.
After being drafted in the 26th round of 2001, Parra had taken a somewhat slow route up the ladder to the major leagues: He started the 2007 season on his third tour of duty in AA. This time, however would be different. Parra made 13 starts for Huntsville, posted a 2.68 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning, and earned his first promotion to Nashville. And on this day in that season, he pitched a perfect game in just his second AAA game.
Parra's opponent on that day was Round Rock, an Astros affiliate, and as you might expect they weren't fielding a lot of future major leaguers at that point. The most notable batters Parra faced in the game were Astros catcher Humberto Quintero, Braves infielder Brooks Conrad and former Giants, Yankees, Astros and Phillies infielder Cody Ransom. Nonetheless, Parra struck out eleven in the game and recorded 27 outs in 107 pitches, becoming just the third player in the Pacific Coast League's 100+ year history to record a nine inning perfect game.
Parra made just two more starts as a Sound before joining the Brewers for the first time in July, where he made nine appearances in July and August.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2000 and 2005 Brewer Kane Davis, who turns 36.
- 1998 Brewer and FtJ three part interview subject Brad Woodall, who turns 42.
- Seattle Pilot and 1970-71 Brewer John Gelnar, who turns 68.
- 1955-58 Milwaukee Brave Humberto Robinson, who would have turned 81.