Player Tried Bizarre Batting Stance at LLWS and the Umpire Wasn’t Having It

Mexico’s second baseman made ESPN’s announcers laugh, but not the man behind the plate.

With its longstanding ESPN television deal and pervasive MLB-aided marketing, it can be difficult sometimes to remember that competitors in the Little League World Series are, in fact, Little Leaguers.

However, once in a blue moon, an incident in the venerable tournament serves as a reminder that baseball is a children’s game.

In the top of the fifth inning in Game 25 of this year's competition in Williamsport, Pa., Mexico loaded the bases against Venezuela. Mexico second baseman Santiago (Elias) Hernandez dug in against Venezuela pitcher Adrian Soto... and immediately squatted down to reduce the strike zone to mere square inches.

If he was amused, the home plate umpire didn’t show it, calling a strike.

ESPN’s commentators, however, laughed out loud, wondering whether Hernandez had practiced the move beforehand.

Despite its shenanigans in this particular at-bat, Mexico rallied past Venezuela 3–1 to advance to the fourth round of the lower international bracket.