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Nationals outfielder visits kids battling cancer before hitting the road to Houston

Gerardo Parra and his wife Tania visited Children's National Hospital to spread some joy before the World Series.

WASHINGTON — Just days before heading to Houston, Nationals outfielder Gerardo Parra and his wife Tania visited Children's National Hospital to bring joy to pediatric cancer patients. 

With the Nationals mascot "Screech" in tow, Parra and his wife handed out plush baby sharks and Nationals hats to spread some joy to kids battling cancer. 

Parra uses the notorious Baby Shark as his walk-out song, which has quickly become a fan favorite and a gameday tradition. And the tradition started with Parra, too. According to Major League Baseball's website, it's been Parra's walk-up song ever since June when the team wasn't doing so well.

The song choice was a request from his kids. 

The entire Nats team has joined in on the Baby Shark craze. When a player hits a single, they turn to their teammates and do the baby shark motion; for a double, it's mommy shark motion and a triple or home run elicits full on daddy shark mode.

RELATED: Nationals to hold free World Series watch parties for Games 1 and 2 at Nats Park, rain or shine

Credit: Washington Nationals
Parra visited pediatric cancer patients.

Baby Shark has become the city's good luck charm and will hopefully lead us to winning the World Series, and Parra is taking that good luck charm with him, including to the Children's National Hospital. 

Credit: AP
Washington Nationals' Gerardo Parra celebrates after Game 4 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 7-4 to win the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Gerardo and the rest of the Nationals are hitting the road to Houston for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. 

RELATED: Why do Nats fans sing 'Baby Shark' during the games?

Here is your updated World Series schedule:

Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 22: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros - 8 p.m.

Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 23: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros - 8 p.m.

Travel Day: Thursday, Oct. 24

Game 3: Friday, Oct. 25: Houston Astros at Washington Nationals - 8 p.m.

Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 26: Houston Astros at Washington Nationals - 8 p.m.

*Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 27: Houston Astros at Washington Nationals - 8 p.m.

Travel Day: Monday, Oct. 28

*Game 6: Tuesday, Oct. 29: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros - 8 p.m.

*Game 7: Wednesday, Oct. 30: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros - 8 p.m.

*if needed 

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