A Little League player tried to fool an umpire into giving him a call by adopting a bizarre stance at the plate.
Many young players are already working with lowered strike zones at the Little League World Series. But a Mexico hitter stepped up with the bases loaded during the fifth inning of a game against Venezuela on Tuesday and crouched as low as he could with the count at 1-0, taking a stance you’d probably take if you suddenly had to go and couldn’t find a restroom.
The ensuing pitch went over his head but the umpire at home plate still ruled it a strike.
“I hope they tell him it’s not going to change the strike zone,” ESPN’s Todd Frazier joked. “I love every second of it.”
Check it out right below:
Frazier, a two-time All-Star who suited up for New Jersey in the Little League World Series in 1998, regretted not having tried something similar when he played.
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The player still attempted to get the umpire to give him a favorable call, putting his left foot on home plate while returning to the box, something the catcher pointed out.
While his ploys were unsuccessful, Mexico ran out to a 3-1 victory, scoring three runs in said inning.
Many baseball fans took to X after seeing the video and voiced their displeasure with the Mexican hitter’s batting stance:
