How Pokemon cards with Mike Trout helped Zach Neto break out of his slump originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Zach Neto needed a way to break out of his slump.
His Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout had an idea: Pokemon cards.
Trout decided Tuesday that the two of them should open some cards before their game against the Chicago White Sox.
It went well — Neto pulled a Charizard.
And then the game went well, too. Neto homered. Trout homered. And the Angels won 4-3.
This is how MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger reported the action after the game:
Zach Neto said he got out of his slump after opening Pokémon cards with Mike Trout pregame to get his mind off things. He packed a Charizard card and Trout told him the box of cards would bring them homers. And they both went deep tonight and Trout hugged Neto after his homer.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 6, 2026
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Charizard cards are some of the most popular and highly regarded that a collector can find, particularly if you end up with a rare version of the powerful fire-type Pokemon.
Card collecting has picked up again in recent years, and many social figures with large followings have taken to opening packs on streams to let fans experience the moment with them.
For Neto and Trout, it was a way to take their mind off of things, and hopefully get some good vibes. When that Charizard showed up, it definitely had to help the mood, and in the end, it led to a Neto home run and a win.