Baseball fans amused as young child plays umpire from the stands during MLB game: "Put a pitch clock on mom for that hot dog" "Enrico Pallazzo Jr."
Many MLB fans aren't showing up for Oakland Athletics games these days, but at least one of them wants a spot even closer to the action.
In an image caught by The Athletic writer/editor Melissa Lockhard, a mystery child was sitting just a few rows behind the plate during Wednesday's Athletics game against the Cleveland Guardians. The child's movements pantomimed that of the home plate umpire through every pitch.
There’s a kid dressed as a home plate ump here and he’s calling balls and strikes. This is awesome! https://t.co/d5owodTlTF
As the video clip went viral, baseball fans took great delight in watching the child's efforts.
@melissalockard Enrico Palazzo Jr.
@melissalockard Hilarious!!
Follow me I'll follow back@melissalockard This is the cutest and most entertaining thing I've seen all day! Who needs actual umpires when you have a little one doing it better? #FutureMLBStar ⚾️🔥 Follow me I'll follow back
Quite a few baseball fans figured that the young amateur umpire might do a much better job than several professionals.
@melissalockard Even from that distance that kid already has a more accurate strike zone than Angel Hernandez, C.B. Bucknor, Brian O'Nora, and Laz Diaz.
@melissalockard Guaranteed he's already calling a better game.
@melissalockard @umpireshow this kid probably can do better than Angel Hernandez
There were unconfirmed reports that the child had to throw his mother out of the game for conduct unbecoming of a parent that should be doting on their progeny at a ballpark.
@melissalockard @__ChrisCote Heard he tossed him mom in the 6th for arguing Apple Juice and Chocolate Milk
@melissalockard @__ChrisCote This kid definitely reminds the teacher they haven’t assigned homework yet.
@melissalockard gonna have to put a pitch clock on mom for that hot dog
Um, not quite sure about this reaction. Is soaking umpires -- or worse yet, children -- in lukewarm beer a tradition at RingCentral Coliseum? Of course, there are only a few more than 3,000 fans showing up to MLB games in Oakland these days, so that might not amount to much beer to soak anyone in.
@melissalockard Why isn’t that kid soaked in lukewarm beer yet?
The mystery child is attending MLB Umpire Camp in July
Following a discussion between MLB Umpire Camps and the yet-unknown child's aunt, this junior umpire will be attending an umpire camp in July. So, who knows, if robot umpires aren't in effect by the time the child grows up, they may be calling balls and strikes for real one day.