Baseball is a game of rituals, routines, and a whole lot of superstition. Just ask Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, who found an unlikely hero in a fire-breathing Pokémon.

Neto entered Tuesday night mired in the worst slump of his young career. Through 36 games, the leadoff hitter was slashing just .210/.323/.371 — numbers that would represent career lows over a full season. He hadn't hit a home run since April 10, a drought spanning 23 games, and was in the midst of a five-game hitless streak while leading the league in strikeouts.

But sometimes, a little pregame magic is all it takes to turn things around.

Before Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox, teammate Mike Trout texted Neto about opening Pokémon cards together. The superstition was simple: if they pulled a Charizard, home runs would follow. And wouldn't you know it — they found one.

"He texted me this morning about ripping Pokémon cards and that if we found a Charizard, I was gonna hit a homer, and we did," Neto said after the game. "And we both hit a homer, so that was pretty cool."

Sure enough, Neto launched a solo shot in the fifth inning to give the Angels a 3-2 lead, while Trout also went deep. Neto finished 2-for-4 with the home run and an RBI, breaking out of his slump in style.

For those unfamiliar with the Pokémon card world, Charizard is one of the rarest and most coveted pulls in any set — a true good luck charm. Neto credited the distraction as much as the card itself.

"It's just the little things to get my head out of baseball a little bit," he said. "Sometimes that's what you need. And I was able to come through."

Neto's final message to fans? A simple but heartfelt: "Thanks Charizard."

Don't be surprised if you see that Charizard card tucked away in his locker for the rest of the season. After all, in a sport where rally caps and lucky socks reign supreme, a fire-breathing Pokémon might just be the new must-have accessory for breaking out of a slump.