Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski has been the breakout star of MLB 2026, which means the world knows the man with the triple-digit fastball.
One thing we learned about is Misiorowski’s Pokemon fandom, which runs deep enough that he decorated his bathroom with a wall of Pokemon cards, from a neon Pikachu to a Lugia rug and more. He also collects Pokemon cards and even drew a holographic Charizard at the time. These can sell for thousands of dollars if they are properly graded.
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The man clearly recognizes the Pokemon superfan. That makes one moment on Thursday a little awkward.
While talking about his World Cup 1 project, Misiorowski was asked what kind of “Pokemon industry” he would bring on Friday. Answers:
“Definitely flame energy. Bring on – what’s Charizard’s signature? I think it’s a ball. Let’s go have some ball. I’ll be ready.”
MLB, promoting the NL Cy Young Award winner at its highest level, ran with authority on social media.
Many Pokemon fans immediately saw something wrong, but less initiated: “Freeball” does not move with Charizard’s signature. There is no such thing as a move in all Pokemon.
The deck theme is “Fireball” in the card game, Gigantamax’s move called “G-Max Fireball” by another Pokemon and even “Dark Charizard” which uses the move “Continuous Fire” but the move is not a signature. Misiorowski’s Charizard card clearly says “Fire Spin”, and Pokemon have many other types of fire that move in video games, but no one is called “Fireball”.
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“Flame energy” isn’t really the right term, either. Misiorowski might be thinking more of the “Fire Energy” that charizard cards use in abundance.
Does this really mean anything? Not really. Could Misiorowski have just had a brain crash the day before the biggest start of his career? Of course. Is this serious criticism of Misiorowski to be interpreted? Please don’t. It’s just odd to see a man who went so far as to decorate his house in Pokemon regalia getting something so basic this wrong.
Misiorowski’s class choice is certainly fitting because no pitcher in the MLB has a better reason to be called a flamethrower (he can accidentally use Charizard’s other moves). The 6-foot-7 right-hander throws the hardest fastball we’ve ever seen from a starting pitcher and has dominated hitters all season.
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On Friday, the Brewers will send him to face the Rays, a team that has turned away and missed less than any other team in the MLB.