Zach Neto of the Angels credits opening Pokémon cards before a game for his breakout performance, helping the team secure a 4-3 win over the White Sox. He mentioned that Mike Trout's encouragement played a key role in his success.
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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Zach Neto high-fives teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run, Image 2 shows Collage of multiple Pokémon trading cards including Charizard
Trying to catching ’em all led to Zach Neto nearly hitting ’em all out on Tuesday night.
The Angels shortstop told reporters following Los Angeles’ big 4-3 win over the White Sox that opening up some Pokemon cards before the game helped him break out of one of the worst hitting slumps of his life.
Neto explained, according to MLB.com, that Mike Trout approached him a few hours before first pitch and let him know he had a case of cards and “when we rip it, it’s going to have homers in it.”
Zach Neto came into Tuesday night’s game against the White Sox in an 0-for-18 slump. Getty Images
Neto added in a postgame on-field interview that Trout actually guaranteed “that if we found a Charizard, I was going to hit a homer. And we did.”
Zach Neto believes that opening Pokémon cards before the game helped him break out of a hitting slump, contributing to his strong performance.
The Angels won the game against the White Sox with a score of 4-3.
Mike Trout encouraged Zach Neto to open the Pokémon cards, suggesting it would lead to a successful game.
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And, sure enough, both Neto and Trout homered.
Trout’s blast came early, when he parked an Eric Fedde sweeper into the seats in the first inning. Neto’s dinger arrived four innings later, when he, too, planted a Fedde sweeper over the fences.
Neto, mired in a 0-for-18 rut prior to Tuesday’s tilt, ended the game 2-for-4, and profusely praised Trout and Pokemon afterward.
“Just the little things to get my head out of baseball a little bit,” he said of ripping packs with Los Angeles’ star outfielder. “Sometimes that’s what you need and I was able to come through.
“Thanks, Charizard.”
Trout, Neto and whichever other fictional characters they love will take the field next later Wednesday afternoon in their series finale vs. White Sox at Angel Stadium.