'Mini Bautista' video steals hearts of Blue Jays fans
He times that swing perfectly
It would take something exceptional to distract fans from the unbelievable seventh inning of Wednesday's game five of the AL Division Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers — but a young fan the internet has dubbed "Mini Bautista" has done it.
All eyes were on Jose Bautista as he hit a game-clinching homer and flipped away his bat, in a moment fans will talk about for years.
"I knew I'd done something great for the team at the moment of impact," Bautista told reporters afterward. "I don't remember much after that."
But thanks to the internet, we now know there was another drama unfolding in the stands at the very moment Bautista made his historic swing.
As he set up for the hit, Oscar Wood, dressed in Jays gear and sporting a full Bautista-style beard, wound up along with him, swinging in perfect sync with Bautista's colossal home run.
And it was awesome.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> channelling his batting chi again... <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeyBats19">@JoeyBats19</a> ⚡️CRUSHES⚡️it outta here <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bluejays?src=hash">#bluejays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ComeTogether?src=hash">#ComeTogether</a> <a href="http://t.co/VLyhnlDhsE">pic.twitter.com/VLyhnlDhsE</a>
—@Benn2NsTwitter dubbed him #MiniBautista.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> is Canada's new spirit animal. LOVE this kid! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ComeTogether?src=hash">#ComeTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJaysGo?src=hash">#GoJaysGo</a> <a href="http://t.co/9bXudptiSP">pic.twitter.com/9bXudptiSP</a>
—@JennaKhanNot the biggest baseball fan but I'm securely on this bandwagon with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> here <a href="http://t.co/ejqywbjkzK">http://t.co/ejqywbjkzK</a>
—@SharkeySkeletonBest thing ever <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays">@BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/IkirDL6W1b">https://t.co/IkirDL6W1b</a>
—@RadzMpofuIs it possible to watch this TOO many times? No? Ok cool. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> <a href="https://t.co/duWYLHMk0q">https://t.co/duWYLHMk0q</a>
—@AlexStimson<a href="https://twitter.com/Benn2Ns">@Benn2Ns</a> Yankee fan hate the Jays but <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> set the world on fire. Nothing cooler could happen to a kid at the park congratulations.
—@schatzNgigglesSome say he won game five for Toronto.
Blue Jays fans have 'Mini Bautista' to thank for big Bautista's massive home run <a href="http://t.co/zFtDfMdM8a">http://t.co/zFtDfMdM8a</a>
—@iamthemacman<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> rocks! You won the game for us, kid!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PerfectlyTimedSwing?src=hash">#PerfectlyTimedSwing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ComeTogether?src=hash">#ComeTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBlueJays?src=hash">#LetsGoBlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/jxxDgcQ95j">https://t.co/jxxDgcQ95j</a>
—@heyitsgordo<a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays">@BlueJays</a> you gotta get <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> tickets for the KC games?! We would have been lost without him! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBlueJays?src=hash">#LetsGoBlueJays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/legend?src=hash">#legend</a>
—@Niallf365And he's being hailed as a hero for it.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> for Prime Minister
—@stevehealyjrWonder how many <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> costumes we will see this Halloween?! This kid is awesome! <a href="https://t.co/PBjGJmL9Xf">https://t.co/PBjGJmL9Xf</a>
—@JodiRomyn<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> saves a Nation <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ComeTogether?src=hash">#ComeTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/sGfQiHMZDS">https://t.co/sGfQiHMZDS</a>
—@Jeremy_Eaton<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MINIBAUTISTA?src=hash">#MINIBAUTISTA</a>. Real MVP
—@manythings<a href="https://twitter.com/Benn2Ns">@Benn2Ns</a> can I have <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> autograph on this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash">#BlueJays</a> bat???!! <a href="http://t.co/DNzdpsTvAx">pic.twitter.com/DNzdpsTvAx</a>
—@Barbercharlie83Others say it was one of the best plays of the game.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> called it from the 500 Level. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Toronto?src=hash">#Toronto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash">#BlueJays</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ComeTogether?src=hash">#ComeTogether</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALDS2015?src=hash">#ALDS2015</a> -... <a href="http://t.co/ADNsqQJ4Ov">http://t.co/ADNsqQJ4Ov</a>
—@3XGP1 of the greatest sports fan moments of all time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OFALLTIMEFAM?src=hash">#OFALLTIMEFAM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CalledIt?src=hash">#CalledIt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeyBats19">@JoeyBats19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays">@BlueJays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALDS?src=hash">#ALDS</a> <a href="https://t.co/5GpLoTYq1g">https://t.co/5GpLoTYq1g</a>
—@TheBrad509Emotions are running high.
Overly emotional problems: I actually cried watching the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> video <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SPORTS?src=hash">#SPORTS</a>
—@KaterynaTepScouting report on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a>'s swing: Above-average bat speed, drops the barrel, natural loft. One negative: video makes me cry. A lot.
—@CVCrawfordBPI’ve watched the miniBautista video many times and it’s still making me smile. That kid’s face is priceless. Baseball should be fun!
—@joelydangerMini Bautista even got to meet Blue Jay's third baseman Josh Donaldson.
Yeah so this just happened ! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoshDonaldson?src=hash">#JoshDonaldson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MVP?src=hash">#MVP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BringerOfRain20">@BringerOfRain20</a> <a href="http://t.co/7aWgWXyTtf">pic.twitter.com/7aWgWXyTtf</a>
—@Benn2NsIt was a great day for Toronto fans but for Mini Bautista, it was the best day ever.
May2014 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBT?src=hash">#TBT</a> of American Authors. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiniBautista?src=hash">#MiniBautista</a> just had the "Best Day of my life" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bluejays?src=hash">#bluejays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HereForJose?src=hash">#HereForJose</a> <a href="http://t.co/TP2V2tVK8Y">pic.twitter.com/TP2V2tVK8Y</a>
—@Benn2Ns