Yankees praise 'impressive' arm of girl who pelted NY politician with water balloon

Yankees players Harrison Bader and Anthony Volpe, and hitting coach Sean Casey react to the viral video of 10-year-old Alexa Cardona pelting Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman with a water balloon, remarking on her "impressive" arm.

One viral video capturing 10-year-old Alexa Cardona nailing a local New York politician in the back of the head with a water balloon during a Fourth of July parade last month unexpectedly landed her an invitation to the Yankees game Tuesday – where her throwing arm further impressed the pros in person. 

Cardona, a rising fifth grader from Franklin Square, New York, attended batting practice with the Yankees in part due to the sense of humor of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who she pelted with the water balloon from some 100 feet away. The viral video of the moment has since been viewed more than 40 million times across social media platforms. 

Familiar with the clip, Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader asked Blakeman, "That was you?" admitting a common misconception that could explain the video's massive viewership online: "I thought it was Mike Pence." 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Watching the video back on a cell phone, Bader erupted in laughter from the Bronx stadium, agreeing that Blakeman took the caught-on-camera water balloon pelting "like a man." 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman displays a baseball with Alex Cardona while awaiting Yankees batting practice Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Fox News Digital)

"That was you? Good throw," Bader told Cardona, giving her a high-five on the field Tuesday. 

"Where’d you learn that?" Bader asked the girl. "You play softball? Very impressive." 

"Everybody thought that was Pence," Blakeman, who like the