It’s one thing to say Pokémon cards have made their way into Major League Baseball clubhouses. It’s another to see it happen.

Jacob Misiorowski has a custom Gengar glove with a Pokémon card in the web pic.twitter.com/NHxPbr9Ohg

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 18, 2026

In a recent post from Major League Baseball’s official social channels, a player stands at the rail during batting practice, ripping Pokémon packs with a fan. Sleeves are ready. Reactions are real. It looks less like a pregame routine and more like a live break. That moment isn’t an outlier. It’s part of a growing trend.

Who’s that Pokémon⁉️ pic.twitter.com/RacPWD7yZr

— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2026

Across MLB, players are quietly turning trading card games into part of the clubhouse rhythm. What used to be a niche hobby now shows up in dugouts, locker rooms, and even on the field before first pitch.

Mike Trout, a Slump, and a Charizard Reset

The clearest example came recently with Mike Trout and Zach Neto.…