Mariners Just Hung 9 on the A's, But Other MLB Stars Are Hunting Something Way More Precious Than Wins

Okay, Emerald City, let's talk about what REALLY matters first: our Seattle Mariners just went out there and absolutely SMASHED the Athletics yesterday, putting up a monster 9-2 victory! Four dingers left the yard in that game, showing everyone at T-Mobile Park and beyond that our boys mean business early in the season. That’s the kind of power that makes you feel good about where we’re headed. But while we're all fired up about those bombs, there's a whole other wild world brewing in MLB clubhouses, and it's got nothing to do with strikeouts or stolen bases.

From Injuries to a "Pokémon Lair": How One Ace Got Hooked

You know how our guys are always hustling, always grinding? Well, even the pros need an escape, and for some, it’s not golf or video games anymore. Take Chris Sale, the Braves ace. Back in 2022, he was sidelined with a brutal string of injuries, fracturing a rib, a pinky, and a wrist. He was seriously losing it, couldn't even play video games, let alone pitch. Can you imagine that frustration?

Then, his brother-in-law stumbled upon a treasure trove of old Pokémon cards. It totally brought Sale back to the 90s craze, reminding him of teammates bringing binders into the dugout. This time, he wasn't sitting it out. On September 17, 2022, Sale went big, dropping cash on a 1999 Base Set Charizard online, because if you're gonna collect, you go for "the big dog." Fast forward to now, and Sale's got thousands of gem-mint 10 graded cards and reams of unopened boxes in what he calls his "Pokémon lair" in his attic. This ain't no kid's hobby anymore; we're talking about cards that can sell for tens of thousands, with some vintage packs costing thousands of dollars!

Trout, Neto, and the Game-Changing Charizard Pull

Sale isn't alone in this obsession. We're talking about legitimate big-league names diving deep into the Pokémon universe. Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski hits card shops in every city he visits, filling a binder so big it's described as "comically large," and even rocking a Pokémon-themed basement bathroom. Are you kidding me? And get this: Angels stars Mike Trout and Zach Neto were in a slump earlier this season, so what did they do? They opened some Pokémon packs, pulled a coveted Charizard card, and guess what happened next? Both of them homered the very next day! Coincidence? Maybe. But you can bet they’re thinking it was that Charizard magic.

Dodgers reliever Will Klein even shows off a custom Pokémon card glove. We’ve got Texas Rangers teammates Jordan Montgomery and Jake Burger, Cubs starter Jameson Taillon, and Padres starter Nick Pivetta all openly deep into this. This isn't just for fun, either. Remember Logan Paul buying a Pikachu Illustrator card for $5.275 million five years ago? It just sold at auction for a mind-blowing $16.5 million in February! Sale even joked with his wife, Brianne, that he'd won the auction for it, and she actually believed him for a second. It's wild to think what these players are chasing outside of the ballpark.

But let's be real, while those guys are chasing rare Charizards, our Mariners are chasing wins. After slugging those four homers and putting up a 9-2 win against the A's, you know our boys are locked in. Keep that energy high, Seattle, because the M's are just getting started, and that’s the real collection we’re building this season!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.