Funny Bautista Home Run Bomb Gif

The Star talks to Oscar Wood, who has gone viral because of a Blue Jays video his dad took of him swinging in sync with the game. He famously sported a faux-beard, which has earned him the title "Mini Bautista."

'Mini Bautista' hits a home run for Blue Jays with viral video

Oscar Wood, 9, has stolen hearts with his José Bautista beard and his imaginary swing, imitating the Blue Jays star

Tara Deschamps Special to the Star

Thu., Oct. 15, 2015 3 min. read

Article was updated Jul. 12, 2017

It was a tense moment at the Rogers Centre on Wednesday night.

The Blue Jays were tied with Texas with only two innings to go in a game that would send the winner deeper into the playoffs.

As batter José Bautista stepped up to the plate, all hopes were pinned on him. But in the 500 level, there was another slugger feeling the pressure.

Armed with an imaginary bat and sporting a Bautista beard, Oscar Wood, 9, kept his eye trained on the ball and swung in sync with his hero, who knocked the shot far into the bleachers, landing the team a home run and a three-run advantage.

Within minutes his father, Benn, had posted to Twitter a video of the pint-sized slugger's perfectly timed hit. And by the end of the evening, "Mini Bautista" had become a sensation.

Oscar, who's been to about 30 games this season and travelled to Florida for spring training, made international headlines.

Oscar Wood, 8, sported his signature Jose Bautista beard at a recent game and scored a picture with the baseballer himself.

On his home turf — Thornton, a hamlet near Barrie — he became a celebrity in the schoolyard, with pals mobbing him to say, "We saw you on TV. You are the biggest superstar, a celebrity."

His neighbour went one step further, telling Benn, "Your kid has been linked to the most important home run in 22 years."

Since Oscar first donned his beard in 2013, fans have clamoured for snaps with the boy, who mischievously likes to photo-bomb revellers with his brother, "Tiny Tulo," greased with eye black a la Troy Tulowitzki.

Jays fever hit the Wood family when they emigrated from England six years ago and Oscar's father, Benn, attended his first match, nabbing a game ball.

"It was a cool gift to bring home to Oscar," he recalled. "Pun intended, it got the ball rolling."

Soon after, the games turned into a family affair — a lucky feat for Benn, who says, "I am never in trouble with the wife for wanting to watch baseball, because she wants to watch it, too."

Mom might be the one helping with the face paint, but Oscar's older sister, Bella, and Benn deserve the credit for the idea.

When Benn finally grew a "light beard" in 2013, his daughter told him, "You look kind of like Bautista." Because Oscar already had a Bautista shirt, she decided, "Oscar should wear a beard as well," so the two could go as the Bautista brothers.

Later, at a New York Yankees game with a toy bat, he picked up a swing to complete the package.

He'll use the ritual at Game 2 of the next series because he claims it's helped seal the deal a few times.

"When I imaginary-swing the bat to (Bautista), it brings luck to him, because when we went to Yankees Stadium, he hit a home run and then we went to the Tampa Bay game in Toronto and he hit two home runs."

Oscar has met Bautista a handful of times, getting a bat and balls signed. On one occasion, the star athlete complimented the boy, saying: "Nice beard, bro." Another time, he told a photographer who brought the pair together: "This is my bro. We go way back."

So would Oscar consider growing some stubble when he's older?

Yes, he said, but don't push too much hair on him — he thinks Josh Donaldson's man bun is "crazy."

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Source: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/15/mini-bautista-hits-a-home-run-for-blue-jays-with-viral-video.html

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