Viral sensation frames own story with Springer, Altuve inspiration

Mason Lamb is usually one of the smallest kids on the diamond, and it’s not rare for opponents to taunt him because of his distinctive red hair. As the viral sensation showed behind the plate, though, he frames his own story with a competitive spirit and fun personality.

Like his childhood hero José Altuve of the Astros, the 4-foot-4 Lamb lets his play silence the taunts. He’s talented, competitive and full of confidence with the personality of a giant, which is why one of his travel coaches on the Houston-area Deer Park Toros nicknamed him “Swag.”

The video of Lamb leaping to catch a pitch before framing it during a recent NASA Little League game has more than 3.4 million views. Long before he became a viral sensation, he nurtured his love of baseball by drawing inspiration from two of Houston’s biggest stars, George Springer and Altuve of the Astros.

He sees hope in Altuve, the 5-foot-6 perennial All-Star second baseman who refused to take no for an answer when he initially attempted to try out with the Astros.

“I’m usually the smallest kid on my team,” Lamb said, drawing parallels to the 2017 American League MVP. “I try to outperform and work harder than anybody. I try to never give up.”

Lamb, 11, has also found a kindred spirit in Springer, who has overcome a speech impediment. He was inspired after listening to Springer talk about his upbringing a few years ago at a sporting goods store in the Houston suburb of Katy.

He wears No. 4 in honor of Springer, who dons that number for the Astros.

“It caught my attention because I think he said he got picked on a little bit because of (the speech impediment) at school,” Lamb said. “I’m short and I have red hair, so people see me differently and they pick on me a little, but it never lasts for long.”

Lamb, the son of a Korean father and white mother of Irish descent, stands out because of his distinct looks, red hair and his height.

Opponents have taunted him by pointing him out and saying, “There’s Little Red Riding Hood.”

“Most of the people who pick on me play baseball with me,” he said. “I get to show them up sometimes.”

Lamb, who will be a sixth grader at Westbrook Intermediate next fall, plays travel ball for the Toros out of Deer Park.

He also plays for the NASA Little League Mets, majors division.

Although the video went viral this week, it was actually taken by his dad Matt two weeks ago during a Little League game.

A teammate was having trouble with pitches high out of the strike zone.

“Next time he does that, jump up and frame it,” Matt Lamb, who played baseball at Alvin Community College, told his son.

It took a while, but Matt was ready when Mason jumped up to make the catch before playing framing the pitch.

“The umpire said, ‘you moved just a little,’” Mason recalled with a laugh.

“He takes his craft very serious, but he also loves to have fun,” Katie Mason says of her son Mason. “He has been playing baseball since he was 3, and before that even with his dad. He is one of the smaller kids, younger kids, but he doesn’t back down. He thinks he’s 10-feet tall.”

Mason carries himself with plenty of swag.

“I have a lot of confidence when I go on the field because I’ve been beaten very rarely in my baseball career,” he said. “I try to give my teammates also that confidence when I go out on the field.”

He also keeps the game in perspective with his demeanor, which is what his leaping frame was all about.

“Have fun and enjoy the game,” he said, “because one day you might not be able to play.”

Featured Image: Courtesy Lamb Family