World Series: Jacob Misiorowski makes odd Pokemon gaffe while previewing Game 1 start

Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski has been MLB’s breakout star of 2026, which means the world learning more about the man with the triple-digit fastball.

One thing we’ve learned about is Misiorowski’s Pokemon fandom, which runs deep enough that Misiorowski has decked out his bathroom with a wall of Pokemon cards, a neon Pikachu, a Lugia bath mat and more. He also collects Pokemon cards, and even pulled a holographic Charizard during the season, which can sell for thousands of dollars if graded properly.

The man clearly identifies as a Pokemon superfan. That makes one moment on Thursday a little awkward.

While speaking about his World Series Game 1 start, Misiorowski was naturally asked about what kind of “Pokemon energy” he would bring into Friday. His answer:

"Definitely the flame energy. Going to bring — what's Charizard's signature move? I think it’s fireball. Going to bring some fireball. I'll be ready."

MLB, eager to promote the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner on its biggest stage, certainly ran with quote.

Many Pokemon fans immediately saw something wrong there, but for the less initiated: “Fireball” is not Charizard’s signature move. There is no such move in all of Pokemon.

There is a “Fireball” theme deck in the card game, a GigantaMax move called “G-Max Fireball” learned by a different Pokemon and also a “Dark Charizard” card that uses the move “Continuous Fireball,” but that’s obviously not a signature move. The Charizard card Misiorowski owns clearly says “Fire Spin,” and the Pokemon learns many other fire-type moves in the video games, but none called “Fireball.”

“Flame energy” isn’t even really the right term either, as Misiorowski might be thinking more about a “Fire Energy,” which Charizard cards use in abundance.

Does any of this matter? Not really. Could Misiorowski have just had a brain fart the day before the biggest start of his life? Of course. Should this be interpreted as a serious criticism of Misiorowski? Please don’t. It’s just odd to see a man who goes as far as decorating his house in Pokemon regalia getting something so basic this wrong.

Misiorowski’s chosen typing is at least apt, because no pitcher in MLB has a better case to be called a flamethrower (incidentally another move Charizard can use). The 6-foot-7 right-hander throws the hardest fastball we’ve ever seen from a starting pitcher and dominated hitters all season.

On Friday, the Brewers will send him out to face a Rays team that swings and misses less than any team in MLB.