It took Parker up until just a few hours prior to the deadline for draftees to sign, as he was weighing his options and had Georgia Tech as his fallback plan.

After signing late, he missed out on pro-ball in the 2007 season, but he jumped right into Single-A in 2008 and held his own as a 19-year-old, pitching for the South Bend Silver Hawks.

After starting 2009 at high-A Visalia, he was promoted in April to the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate, the Mobile BayBears.

On December 9, 2011, the Diamondbacks traded Parker, Collin Cowgill and Ryan Cook to the Oakland Athletics for Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow.

[4] After spending the early part of the 2012 season at the Triple-A level, Parker joined the Athletics' starting rotation in late April.

[5] On June 4, 2012, Parker no-hit the Texas Rangers for seven innings before surrendering a single to Michael Young to lead off the eighth.

Parker was outrighted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on October 7, 2016,[11] and he then elected free agency.

Parker said he'd look to work in the health industry, potentially serving as a rehab coordinator for players returning from injury.

Early on, I want to establish the fastball down and be as aggressive as I can, but in certain counts I'll want to raise the hitter's eye level, then come back with a curveball.