When the Cincinnati Reds needed a spark, they found it in the most unexpected place: a pair of custom Speedos.

Before the Reds' crucial Ohio Cup series against the Cleveland Guardians, bench coach Mike Napoli made a bold wardrobe choice that had the entire clubhouse buzzing. The garment in question? The now-legendary "Tito Speedo" — a bright, eye-catching piece of swimwear featuring manager Terry Francona's face superimposed on a 1980s Reds player, front and back.

The story begins when catcher Tyler Stephenson had the Speedo custom-made as a playful spring training gift for Francona. But it was Napoli who took the joke to the next level. During a cribbage session before the series finale against the Washington Nationals, Napoli spotted the Speedo hanging in Stephenson's locker.

"I looked over and saw his Speedo hanging over there," Napoli recalled. "I was like, 'Is it washed?' He said, 'Yeah, why?' I said, 'I'm wearing it for the game today.'"

What happened next felt like something out of a baseball fairy tale. The Reds, who had been struggling mightily at the plate — averaging less than three runs per game during an eight-game losing streak — erupted for 15 runs against the Nationals. As the runs piled up, Napoli couldn't keep his secret quiet any longer.

"I might have pulled down my zipper and showed a couple of guys," he admitted with a grin.

When Francona saw Napoli before the Cleveland series opener, he didn't even need to ask. "He goes, 'Do you even have to ask me that? I'm offended,'" Francona said with a laugh.

For a team looking to turn their season around, sometimes superstition and team chemistry go hand in hand. And as long as the Tito Speedo keeps working its magic, Napoli plans on keeping it in the rotation. After all, in baseball, you never mess with a good luck charm — even if it comes in the form of a skimpy Speedo with your manager's face all over it.